Easyjet reports strong Easter trading

'‹EasyJet has upgraded its profit forecast after a strong Easter boost'‹ed'‹ third'‹ '‹quarter revenues.
EasyJet has applied for a new air operator's certificate in Austria to allow it to continue flying in the European UnionEasyJet has applied for a new air operator's certificate in Austria to allow it to continue flying in the European Union
EasyJet has applied for a new air operator's certificate in Austria to allow it to continue flying in the European Union

The budget airline reported a 16​ per cent​ rise in sales to £1.39​bn in the three months to June 30, with passenger numbers increasing by 1​1 per cent​ to 22.3 million.

As a result, easyJet said full-year pre-tax profits are expected to come in between £380​m​ and £420​m, up from earlier forecasts.

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Chief executive Carolyn McCall, who will leave the company to take the top job at ITV in January, said: "Our purposeful and disciplined growth continues to strengthen our market positions and we are seeing an underlying improving revenue trend.

"Although we expect capacity to continue to put pressure on yields, our progress this year has enabled us to upgrade this year's profit-before-tax forecast and demonstrates that, after a difficult 18 months of external challenges, easyJet once again has positive momentum."

However, profits will still come in below last year's £495​m, when the firm was stung by the plunging pound.

Ms McCall leaves the low-cost carrier at a difficult time for the sector in Britain, with Brexit storm clouds gathering over the travel industry.

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The pound's collapse has meant fewer people travelling overseas and, more starkly, British airlines are at risk of being grounded unless Tory ministers strike an aviation deal with the EU before March 2019.

To mitigate the impact, easyJet last week confirmed that it has applied for a new air operator's certificate (AOC) in Austria to allow it to continue flying in the European Union after Britain's divorce from the bloc.