EasyJet said today the number of passengers it carried in February soared nearly 44 per cent from the same month last year.
Europe's biggest budget airline, which acquired rival British no-frills carrier Go-Fly last year, said it carried 1.59 million passengers in February. It carried 1.1 million in the same month a year ago, based on combined figures with Go.
The airline said its load factor, which measures the number of passengers carried as a proportion of the seats available, was 88.7 per cent in February, up from 84.1 per cent last year. Shares in easyJet yesterday closed at 189 pence sterling in London.
Ryanair Holdings said this week it carried 1.292 million passengers in February, up 46 per cent, but its load factor slipped by a point to 81 per cent.
Ryanair yesterday extended its deadline by two days to March 14th for around 200 staff at its newly acquired budget carrier buzz to accept a new offer or face closure.
Ryanair is buying loss-making buzz from KLM.
Ryanair chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary yesterday forecast that average fares would fall by about 5 per cent in its next financial year, starting in April.
The further drop in yields will put increasing pressure on rival European carriers, as Ryanair pushes ahead with its rapid expansion plans in continental Europe.