EasyJet passenger numbers rise

Low-cost airline easyJet today said it carried more passengers during June than last year.

The figure of 4.15 million was up 0.8 per cent on June 2008, although the measure of how full the company's planes were last month fell by 0.6 percentage points to 86.3 per cent.

The company's monthly passenger statistics contained no commentary on conditions in a sector faced with major economic challenges.

British Airways said on Friday that it carried 5 per cent fewer passengers in June, while its planes were 79.6 per cent full, compared with 81.4 per cent a year earlier. Ryanair said it continued to grow with June passenger numbers up 13 per cent to 5.8 million.

Easyjet carried 44.5 million passengers in the year to June, an increase of 7.9 per cent, while capacity changes contributed to a rise in load factor to 85.2 per cent.

It recently announced losses of £129.8 million for its seasonally quieter half-year, although second half bookings were broadly in line with last year.

The airline currently operates a fleet of 173 aircraft, operating out of 19 bases. More than half of easyJet's passengers originate outside the UK, following 21.8% half-year growth on European-based routes.