Passenger numbers up at easyJet

Monday 7th July 2008, 1:12PM BST.

Passenger numbers up at easyJet Brits are still flying despite the credit crunch, but they are flying budget, easyJet passenger figures for June show.

The number of passengers flying with the low-cost airline was up 19.5 per cent in June 2008 compared to June last year, while the company’s load factor increased by 0.1 per cent to 86.9 per cent.

The load factor represents the proportion of paying passengers to empty seats, showing easyJet are still flying with nearly-full planes after buying GB Airways for around £103 million.

The airline said its load factor for the month was “strong”.

“In line with expectations, total revenue per seat continues to improve and to date nearly 70 per cent of seats for the second half of the year have been sold,” easyJet added.

British Airways, which reported its figures last week, said passenger traffic fell 3.7 per cent in June, resulting in a passenger load factor decrease of 3.8 points versus last year, to 76.7 per cent.

The airline said the “difficult” UK consumer environment is to blame for the decline.

However, shorthaul non-premium continues to perform well, the airline said, suggesting Brits are happy to cut back on luxuries, at least for shorter journeys.