EasyJet adding flights as demand takes off

EasyJet is to operate more flights than previously planned due to demand exceeding expectations.

The airline is expanding to 40% of normal capacity between July and September, compared with a predicted 30%.

In the three months to the end of June, the budget carrier made just £7 million in revenue after its fleet was grounded from March 30 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It started flying again in the middle of June and carried 117,000 passengers in the 132,000 seats it had available in the last two weeks of the quarter, easyJet said.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet chief executive, said: “I am really encouraged that we have seen higher than expected levels of demand with load factor of 84% in July with destinations like Faro and Nice remaining popular with customers.

“Our bookings for the remainder of the summer are performing better than expected and as a result, we have decided to expand our schedule over the fourth quarter to fly circa 40% of capacity.”

EasyJet said it has seen strong demand from UK holidaymakers flying to Greece, Turkey and Croatia.

Mr Lundgren claimed the UK’s quarantine policy “is not specific enough” and called for it to be based on regions rather than countries.

EasyJet will use 40% of its capacity compared to 30%