EasyJet passenger numbers up by 38.5%

EasyJet has reported a surge in passenger numbers despite the US terror attacks and slumping global economy keeping people at…

EasyJet has reported a surge in passenger numbers despite the US terror attacks and slumping global economy keeping people at home.

It flew 690,928 passengers in November, a 38.5 per cent jump on the same month last year but down 25,089 on the October total.

Its load factor - passengers as a proportion of seats available - was 85.2 per cent, up on the previous month and on November 2000.

The update comes only days after British Airways reported a 17.8 per cent fall in passenger traffic during November, which it attributed to "challenging" trading conditions.

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But although larger carriers have been hit hard by the economic fallout following September 11th, budget airlines have had a better time of it.

Last month, easyJet rival Ryanair reported a 30 per cent increase in first-half profits.

EasyJet has also said that in November, 90.1 per cent of sales were done online. This is up from 79.4 per cent in November, 2000 - but a marginal slip on last month's figure of 90.2 per cent.

The passengers who flew with easyJet last month brought the rolling total for the 12 months to November 30th to 7,484,788.

PA