easyJet reports huge loss but looks forward to brighter summer | News

easyJet has reported a first-fifty percent pre-tax loss of £701 million as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on the aviation sector.

This compares to a earnings of £193 million 12 months-on-year.

Passenger numbers for the 6 months ending March 31st slumped by 89 per cent to 4.1 million, although overall earnings sank by 90 per cent to £240 million.

The airline expects to fly just 15 per cent of 2019 capacity ranges in the 3rd quarter of its financial calendar year.

On the other hand, the minimal-charge provider forecasts capability amounts will start out to boost from June onwards.

The airline said the benefits are in line with anticipations and it is “encouraged by the reopening of journey throughout a lot of Europe”.

easyJet main executive, Johan Lundgren, reported: “With leisure travel getting off in the Uk again before this 7 days exactly where we are the biggest operator to green record nations around the world and with so lots of European governments easing restrictions to open up up vacation once more, we are completely ready to significantly ramp up our traveling for the summertime with a check out to maximising the prospects we see in Europe.

“We have the capacity to flex up rapidly to work 90 for every cent of our present fleet over the peak summer months period of time to match demand.

“We know there is pent-up demand from customers – we observed this all over again when inexperienced listing international locations ended up launched and additional additional than 105,000 seats – and so we glance forward to becoming equipped to assistance quite a few far more folks to vacation this summer season.”