Easyjet revenues boosted by switch from long-haul holidays
Easyjet has revised its first-half revenue forecast after reporting a rise in business traffic and in long-haul leisure travellers switching to short-haul routes.
Unveiling its figures for the last three months of 2008 – the first quarter of its financial year – the airline reported a 31.5% rise in revenue to £550 million.
This was helped by a 10.1% jump in passenger numbers to 10.1 million, compared to the previous year.
“This is a good performance, especially the 14% increase in our total revenue per seat at constant currency and the 20% growth in non UK originating passenger numbers,” said chief executive Andy Harrison.
“In the current economic climate there is a ‘flight to value’, with European consumers choosing the benefits of easyJet’s great value network serving primary airports.
“In particular, we are seeing business travellers and long-haul leisure travellers switching to easyJet in search of better value.
“This is more than compensating for some softness in discretionary travel and means easyJet continues to win market share.”
But he warned that the outlook for the summer remains uncertain due to the “difficult macro-economic environment and any potential impact from the strengthening of the euro against sterlingâ€.
Following the announcement, the airline’s shares rose 11.3% to 284 pence. Shares have fallen by more than a third over the past year.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026