Jet2 hikes its annual earnings outlook after return to profit

Holiday firm Jet2 has said full-year earnings will be better than expected after swinging to a first half profit, despite a hit of more than £50 million from airport chaos.

But it cautioned that profit margins may come under pressure given soaring costs, including for fuel and staff wages, as well as from the weaker pound.

Jet2 reported pre-tax profits of £450.7m for the six months to September 30, against losses of £205.8m a year ago. It said profits with currency impacts stripped out stood at £505m against losses of £195.1m.

The company said it was a “difficult return to normal operations”, with the costs of disruption at airports and staff shortages leaving it with delay and compensation costs of more than £50m in the first half.

Its in-flight sales also suffered due to problems sourcing products amid supply chain disruption.

In spite of the sectorwide woes, the group said aircraft seat capacity rose 14% against the summer before Covid struck, with demand for holidays ramping up after pandemic restrictions lifted.

It revealed that the cost of its package holidays lifted by 5% to £782 on average over the first half, affected by increases to offset rising inflation as well as holidaymakers choosing more expensive destinations.