Easyjet: Profits would be higher than expected

After Easyjet’s announcement that full-year profits would be higher than expected, carrier’s shares shot up 10%.

After Easyjet’s announcement that full-year profits would be higher than expected, carrier’s shares shot up 10%.

BBC reports that after stronger than predicted passenger numbers last month, airline now expects its pre-tax profit for the 12 months to 30 September to surpass ยฃ150m.

This compares with its earlier guidance of between ยฃ100m and ยฃ150m.

Easyjet’s shares were up 38.80 pence to 425.70p in early afternoon trading in London, making it the biggest riser on the FTSE 250 index.

According to BBC, the airline said it had carried 4.8 million passengers in September, an increase of 8% on the same month in 2009, due to more people flying from the UK to Europe.

It said this meant that revenues per seat in the fourth quarter would rise by 6%.

Easyjet also downgraded the financial impact on the business of April’s volcanic ash cloud across Europe from ยฃ65m to ยฃ60m.

However, it said it would have to pay ยฃ6m in compensation costs as a result of last month’s air traffic controller strikes in France, Spain and Greece.

Airlines analyst Wyn Ellis of Numis Securities said Easyjet’s trading update was encouraging.

However, he warned that the airline was still in dispute with its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.

Sir Stelios stood down as an Easyjet director earlier this year in a row over the airline’s strategy and flight punctuality.

However, he and his family still own 38% of the business.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...