British budget airline EasyJet has announced a 10.5% annual jump in revenue during its first financial quarter as it attracted more passengers from outside Britain.
The airline also forecast a significant rise in profits this year, as it shrugged off recent travel disruption caused by freezing weather conditions.
Revenue climbed to £607.5m in the three months to December 31, EasyJet said in a trading statement. Passenger numbers increased by 9.1% to 11 million.
EasyJet said passengers coming from outside the UK increased by 20% in the quarter and now accounted for more than half of all its passengers.
The airline's outgoing chief executive Andy Harrison said EasyJet faced 'a tough trading environment' amid 'challenging' economic conditions, but added that the first quarter performance had been encouraging.
In December, the airline announced that Harrison would step down from his position as chief executive at the end of June.
