EasyJet lifted by mild winter
SHARES in easyJet took off yesterday as a mild winter and higher revenues from allocated seating led to an improved half-year performance.
The budget airline said it would make a loss of £55-65million for the six months to March 31, compared with a previously forecast loss of £70-90million.
This was partly due to less disruption and lower de-icing costs. Freezing temperatures the previous year had added more than £6million to its de-icing bill. Allocated seats should add about 1.5 per cent to revenue per seat.
The airline’s half-year loss of £61million for 2013 included the Easter period, which brought in £25million of extra ticket sales. This Easter will boost easyJet’s second-half performance.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall said it showed “continued focus on cost and progress against all our strategic priorities”.
Shares rose 60p to 1692p.