Easyjet warns of impact of rising oil prices
Easjyet believes many of its “weaker competitors” will disappear or downsize if oil prices continue to rise.
Unveiling its interim financial results today, the airline’s chief executive Andy Harrison said oil remains the biggest challenge and uncertainty.
“The price of jet fuel has risen 35% over the last three months and is now 80% higher than last year,” he said.
“Nobody knows how much of this increase is driven by short term financial speculation and how much is a longer term sustainable increase.”
“What is certain is that if these fuel increases are maintained many of our weaker competitors will disappear or downsize and easyJet will emerge even stronger reflecting the combination of our business model, our cost advantage, our new fuel efficient fleet and the strength of our network.”
For the six months to March 31, easyJet’s total revenue grew 24% to £892.2 million, with underlying pre tax margin in line with expectations.
Passenger numbers increased 15% to 18.9 million and load factors were at 81%, in line with the previous year.
Total revenue per seat (excluding GB Airways and exchange movements) was up 1.5% compared to last year and cost per seat, excluding fuel, GB Airways and exchange movements, was down by 0.9% compared to last year.
Fuel costs rose by 23.8% per seat compared to last year.
Harrison said GB Airways was “smoothly integrated and is delivering larger than expected benefits.”
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 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt