Easter rush sees Easyjet raise profit forecasts

0 The airline saw passenger numbers grow by 10.8% to 22.3 million in the latest reporting period Easyjet has upgraded its annual profit forecast after a strong Easter helped boost third-quarter revenues.

The budget airline reported a 16 per cent rise in sales to £1.39 billion in the three months to 30 June, with passenger numbers increasing by 10.8 per cent to 22.3 million.

As a result, Easyjet said fullyear pre-tax profits are expected to come in between £380 million and £420m, up from earlier forecasts.

Chief executive Carolyn Mccall, who will leave the company to take the top job at ITV in January, said: “Our purposeful and disciplined growth continues to strengthen our market positions and we are seeing an underlying improving revenue trend.

“Although we expect capacity to continue to put pressure on yields, our progress this year has enabled us to upgrade this year’s profitbefore-tax forecast and demonstrates that, after a difficult 18 months of external challenges, Easyjet once again has positive momentum.”