Easy does it for bookings
Airline’s 2019 sales rise, despite Brexit
BREXIT fears have failed to dent summer bookings, the boss of easyJet revealed yesterday.
Johan Lundgren said: “We haven’t seen a loss of demand. On the contrary, bookings for next summer are slightly up.”
The increase comes despite a deal to maintain flying rights between the UK and the EU being up in the air.
Lundgren described bookings for the next six months as “solid”. It came as the budget airline announced annual profits had soared by 41% to £578million.
Passenger numbers rose 10% to a record 88.5 million and its load factor – how full its planes flew – reached nearly 93%.
The airline, which already flies 979 routes to 156 airports, plans to grow capacity by another 10% in the year ahead.
It’s also ramping up a loyalty programme to build on the 65% of passengers who were return customers in the last two years.
EasyJet’s invitation-only Flight Club, for those who fly with the airline more than 20 times a year, saw its member numbers jump 45%.
However, the firm warned cost pressures will continue, with a hit of up to £100m expected from rising fuel prices.
Its annual results were boosted by the collapse of Monarch and Air Berlin, and Ryanair’s flight cancellations.
Lundgren predicted more airlines would get into trouble or be forced to merge. But he refused to comment on whether his firm was in talks with up-for-sale Flybe.
All he would say is: “We will have a look at strategic opportunities and we have the financial strength to do so.”