British low-cost airline easyJet Plc's passenger numbers in November rose 8.3 per cent from a year ago to 2.3 million, the company said today.
The airline said its load factor - an indication of how efficiently it is filling seats on planes - was 80.2 per cent, down 1 per centage points from the same month last year.
For the 12 months ended November, easyJet said it carried 30 million passengers. "In the month that we celebrated our 10th anniversary, we carried over 30 million passengers in a 12 month period for the first time, reflecting the demand for low-cost air travel and our ability to meet it," Chief Executive Andrew Harrison, who stepped into the top job last week, said in a statement.
EasyJet said last month it expected current-year earnings to rise in the mid-to-high-single-digit percentage range.
EasyJet and larger rival Ryanair are preparing for a tougher winter after fare increases and solid demand helped them offset record fuel prices during the summer.
Ryanair said on Monday its November passenger numbers rose 25 per cent, and its load factor was 81 per cent in the month. Iceland's FL Group raised its stake in easyJet to 16.2 per cent in September, reviving speculation it may be planning a takeover bid for the UK airline.