(Finance) – easyJet closed the six months to 31 March 2022 with a loss before tax of 545 million pounds, down from -701 million pounds in the first half of fiscal year 2021. The British low-cost airline recorded total revenue up 524% to £ 1,498 million (H1 2021: £ 240 million) mainly due to increased capacity and ancillary products sold, which continue to generate incremental revenues. THE main costs of the group increased by 117% to 2.043 million pounds, mainly due to the increase in flight capacity.
“We plan to operate the 90% of fiscal 2019 capacity in the third quarter and we have approximately 97% sales capacity in the fourth quarter with the holidays (compared to the same period in fiscal 2019) – commented the CEO Johan Lundgren – easyJet now on track to transport over 1.1 million customers this financial year. “
“And so, as we go back to a more normal summer season, we are poised to capture the rising levels of demand across our entire network. We are confident in our plans for the summer, which will see us reach flight levels close to 2019, “she added.
easyJet also revealed that forward bookings for the third quarter are sold for 76% and for the fourth quarter 36%. In the past 10 weeks, bookings have been 6% higher than in the same period in 2019. The Easter holidays saw a 90% load factor. Ticket rates sold in the fourth quarter are currently 15% above 2019 and load factors are expected to be above 90%.