EasyJet passenger numbers up

Low-cost airline easyJet said yesterday passenger numbers rose 13.7 per cent in October from a year ago to 2.73 million.

The airline said its load factor - an indication of how many seats it has filled - was 85.6 per cent of capacity, down 1.4 percentage points in the month.

Chief Executive Ray Webster said in a statement the airline would give guidance for the current financial year when it reports results on November 22.

In August easyJet raised its profit forecast for the year to end-September 2005 to match last year's £62.2 million. EasyJet said its passenger numbers for the rolling 12 months to end-October rose 20.4 per cent and total revenue increased 21.8 per cent to £1.36 billion.

EasyJet and larger rival Ryanair, which reported record earnings earlier yesterday, are preparing for a tougher winter after fare increases and solid demand helped them offset record fuel prices during the summer.

Ryanair said last week its October load factor was 85 per cent of capacity, down from 87 per cent a year ago, and its passenger numbers rose 23 per cent. Iceland's FL Group raised its stake in easyJet to 16.2 per cent late last month, reviving speculation it may be planning a takeover bid for the airline.

However, easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou said he and his family's 41 per cent stake in the carrier was not for sale.

Meanwhile, Mr Webster retires in December and will be replaced by Andrew Harrison, the former head of motoring services firm RAC.