Eurostar revenue boosted by international visitors
Eurostar reported a 7% increase in revenue to £197m for the third quarter of the year compared with the same period of 2010, pushing its total revenues for the year to date to £617m, up 5% on last year.
Passengers numbers from January to September were up 1% to 7.3m. Excluding the impact of the ash cloud disruption in 2010, numbers were up 3%.
Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said: “We have delivered a solid performance during both the third quarter and the year as a whole, although the tough trading environment across Europe demands a cautious watching brief."
Business Premier sales grew 2% in the third quarter but Eurostar said it "remains cautious" about the outlook. Leisure travellers were up just 2% but international passengers numbers rose 21% during the first nine months of the year.
"Despite the global economic backdrop, London and Europe continues to be a big draw for international travellers," said the train operator. "With London 2012 now less than a year away, Eurostar anticipates in increased interest in the UK as a destination as the world’s focus turns to the Games next year.
Eurostar recently launched a free mobile app to make it easier for customers to book tickets on the move and it will also introduce onboard WiFi and a state-of-the-art infotainment system as part of a £700million investment programme.
By Linsey McNeill
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
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