EasyJet on track to narrow annual losses after record bounceback in demand

A record bounceback in demand for travel over the summer is set to help easyJet sharply narrow annual losses after it saw sales more than double in its peak season.

The airline said it expects to deliver underlying pre-tax profits of between £470 million and £490 million over its final quarter to September 30 as passenger numbers soared to 24 million and revenues leapt to around £2.5 billion from £1 billion a year ago.

It signalled resilient demand despite the cost-of-living crisis, with its flight programme during October and Christmas weeks back to levels seen before the pandemic.

The group is expecting to fly 20 million seats in the last three months of 2022 – up 30% on a year ago – while it added it was already seeing demand for next summer.

Chief executive Johan Lundgren claimed the airline benefits when consumers focus on getting value for money during financial turbulence.

He said: “When households are coming under pressure… they gravitate towards value.

“That is actually a good thing for us because we are primarily known for value for money.”

Mr Lundgren added: “Despite the difficulties that households have, we know that holidays and travel are top of the list when people prioritise what they want to do with their disposable income.

“Clearly there is uncertainty out there but, as we speak now, we have good booking momentum.”

The carrier insisted that efforts to tackle staff shortages and disruption meant its operational performance since the beginning of July was now better than in the final quarter before Covid hit.

It comes after holidaymakers were hit by flight delays and cancellations alongside lengthy queues as airports struggled to cope with the sudden ramping up of demand for overseas holidays.

Airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick told airlines to cut their flight schedules following scenes of chaos as staff shortages left them struggling with baggage handling, air traffic control and security.

EasyJet said it booked around £200 million in disruption costs over the year after the recent airport woes, up from £126 million in 2020-21.

But it is still on track to narrow full-year headline losses of between £170 million and £190 million – down from £1.14 billion losses in the previous year.

Mr Lundgren said: “EasyJet achieved a record bounceback this summer with fourth-quarter operating profit expected to be between £525 million and £545 million and passenger numbers almost doubling versus last summer to 24 million.

He added: “Our summer 23 season went on sale last week and we were filling the equivalent of more than four A320 aircraft a minute in the opening hours, demonstrating the continued demand.”

Mr Lundgren flagged an “uncertain” wider economic backdrop, but said “easyJet is Europe’s largest operator at primary airports with one of the strongest balance sheets in the aviation industry”.