EasyJet passenger numbers taking off

Budget airline EasyJet yesterday reported a 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers in August to just over 5.5 million.

The load factor – which represents the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of seats available – was down slightly at 92.2 per cent, compared with 92.3 per cent a year earlier.

EasyJet’s passenger numbers include seats that are flown whether or not the passenger turns up because it is a no-refund airline. Once a flight has departed a “no-show” customer is generally not entitled to change flights or seek a refund.