Passenger numbers increase at Easyjet

Low-cost airline easyJet today revealed the 2

Low-cost airline easyJet today revealed the 2.1 million passengers it carried during November this year was a 25 per cent increase on the same month a year earlier.

The improvement came after easyJet continued the expansion of its network with the addition of nine new routes, including four from Berlin.

However, today's statistics show the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of seats available falling to 81.2 per cent from 81.5 per cent a year earlier.

Chief executive Mr Ray Webster, who last month announced a 21 per cent improvement in annual profits, said the latest figures offered encouragement at a time of intense competition in the budget market.

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There are now at least 47 low-cost airlines operating in Europe, compared with seven just three years ago.

Mr Webster said: "As these figures demonstrate, there remain good opportunities within the European airlines market for established and efficient low-cost carriers."

Despite the growth, the company is braced for a challenging winter as continued strong competition leaves it with "limited visibility" on fares.

The airline is also facing pressure on overheads after figures showed its annual fuel bill increased by almost 22per cent on a year earlier to €146.9 million.

PA