Easyjet profits soar following strong third quarter
EasyJet says its profit could soar by 45% this year due to the collapse of rival airlines and strikes at Air France.
In an update to its full-year guidance, the low-cost carrier forecast a full year pre-tax profit for the 12 months to the end of September 2018 of £550 million £590 million.
The airline made £408 million in 2017 and in May had predicted a profit of £530 million to £580 million for this year.
It has forecast a profit rise despite being hit by air traffic control strikes and bad weather over the winter, which forced the airline to cancel 2,606 flights in the third quarter alone. During the same period last year, it cancelled just 314 flights.
Nevertheless, revenue in the quarter to the end of June rose 14% to £1.6 billion and passenger numbers increased to 24.4 million. Revenue per seat was up 4.8%.
However, easyJet admitted its new operation at Berlin’s Tegel Airport was operating below expectations with revenue per seat weaker than previously guided. The total loss for the operation, which easyJet launched following the collapse of Air Berlin, is expected to be £175 million, £15 million higher than estimated.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent