Turnover increased more than six-fold to £1.5 billion year-on-year for the six months to the end of March.
The low-cost carrier Easyjet published a reduced net loss in the first half of its staggered financial year on Thursday thanks to the recovery in post-lockdown air traffic, and is optimistic for the summer.
97% of 2019 capacity that could be regained in the fourth quarter
Net loss narrowed 21% to £431m in the six months to end March, and revenue grew more than six-fold to £1.5bn year-on-year during this period marked by Omicron wave around the key Christmas holiday period.
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In its press release, the British carrier said it was counting on flights for the summer season “close to 2019 level“, before the pandemic. In the third quarter, it expects to recover transport capacity to 90% of that of 2019, and in the fourth quarter to 97% of 2019 capacity, for the end-of-year holidays. “The accumulated demand“during the months of confinements and restrictions on international travel then”the lifting of restrictions generated a strong recovery in sales“comments Easyjet in its press release.
Problems recruiting new employees
Since the beginning of 2022, many countries, including the United Kingdom, have considerably relaxed or even eliminated all health restrictions. Easyjet, which has had to cancel hundreds of flights in recent weeks due to staff shortages, with many sick with covid-19, acknowledges having suffered “operational issueswhich according to the press release concerned the entire sector. Ten days ago, the carrier explained that it had removed seats on certain aircraft to limit its personnel needs. Easyjet is also struggling to recruit as airports and airlines in the UK, which had cut staff during the pandemic, are now looking, all at once, to hire staff.