Beached Brits are beautiful to easyJet

HOLIDAYMAKERS heading for the beach helped to offset the impact of French strikes for budget carrier easyJet, sending the orange airline’s shares 5pc higher yesterday on a better-thanexpected third quarter.

Total revenue slipped 1pc to £1.2bn but the airline grew capacity by 4.7pc to 20.8m seats and the number of passengers carried increased by 6.2pc to 19.1m. The load factor – how full planes are – reached 91.7pc.

The threat of further industrial action weighs on the European airline sector and easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall, pictured, said the ‘current macro and operational environment is uncertain’. Analysts at Barclays said easyJet could be hit by £18m of one-off costs in the second half relating to the strikes and the fact a fire at Rome Fiumicino airport reduced capacity. Concerns that British unions would call for a strike over pay eased, however, after Unite recommended UK crews accept easyJet’s pay offer. Barclays analysts think this ‘removes any risk of strikes in August’.

McCall said the performance in its third-quarter has allowed it to forecast profit growth of between 7 and 14pc to up to £660m for the year.

McCall said 77pc of its seats for the second half of the year are already booked and shares closed up 82p to 1748p. ÷ REGIONAL airline Flybe reported strong passenger growth in its first quarter but warned its seven unwanted aircraft could cost it £80m over four years to ditch.

It is disposing of E195s as part of its turnaround under chief executive Saad Hammad.