EasyJet says profits took off this summer

Budget airline EasyJet delivered more profit cheer as it hailed a strong summer for bookings despite Britain basking in one of its longest heatwaves for years.

The Luton-based carrier said demand had remained strong in July’s hot weather and throughout August, while figures also showed that it carried 4.8 per cent more passengers in September.

EasyJet added that profits for the year to 30 September were now set to be at the top end of City expectations, having already upped guidance in July when it defied concerns about the impact of the heatwave and said it was in line to smash profit forecasts.

The group now expects annual profits of between £470 million and £480m, against £317m a year earlier, and said revenues per seat were also expected to grow by around 6 per cent.

It said that more than a quarter of seats have been sold in the first half of its new financial year, in line with bookings from a year earlier.

But the company cautioned that half-year fuel costs were expected to rise by up to £30m year-on-year, while currency movements would also have a £10m impact.

EasyJet has shrugged off fears over a difficult summer for getaways amid the warm sunny weather, as well as many of the woes impacting rival Ryanair.