EasyJet said today it expects its full-year profit to beat market forecasts, encouraged by summer bookings and strong demand over Easter despite French strikes.
Airlines in Europe have reported robust summer bookings despite high inflation and an uncertain macroeconomic outlook.
"We see continued strong booking momentum into summer as customers prioritise spending on travel and choose airlines, like EasyJet, offering the best value and destination mix," said CEO Johan Lundgren.
Market expectations for EasyJet's full-year profit stand at about £260m, the company said.
The airline's passenger capacity grew 40% in the first three months of 2023, it said, with 99.8% of Easter flights operating despite strikes among French air traffic controllers.
The company's holidays business, meanwhile, is expected to grow 60% in the current year.
The airline reported that net debt has fallen to £0.2 billion from £1.1 billion in December but said that fuel prices and a stronger US dollar had raised costs.
Its headline loss for the first half of its financial year is expected to be between £405m and £425m compared to a £545m headline loss a year earlier.
