British rain is Easyjet’s gain

Sun-starved Britons fleeing unusually wet weather at home boosted sales at budget carrier Easyjet in the three months to June, bucking tough conditions elsewhere in the airline sector.

Europe’s second-largest low-cost carrier after Ryanair said revenue rose to £1.03 billion (€1.315 billion) in the quarter, helped by strong demand on beach routes as Britain suffered one of its wettest prolonged spells since records began.

Easyjet, the largest carrier at London’s Gatwick Airport, said bookings to Malaga and Alicante in Spain and Faro in Portugal had jumped by 20 per cent during periods of poor weather.

The airline has also increased the number of flights between business destinations in recent months.