easyJet ready to “significantly ramp up” with green list holiday boom

Budget airline easyJet is ready to take advantage of “pent-up demand” for international travel as summer approaches.

In its results for the six months up to March 31, the firm’s total revenue decreased by 90 per cent to £240m compared with £2.3bn in the same period the previous year.

Despite the loss, the airline has reduced its cash burn and undergone a cost-saving and restructuring programme during the pandemic.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet chief executive, commented: “With leisure travel taking off in the UK again earlier this week where we are the largest operator to Green list countries and with so many European governments easing restrictions to open up travel again, we are ready to significantly ramp up our flying for the summer with a view to maximising the opportunities we see in Europe.

“We know there is pent-up demand - we saw this again when Green list countries were released and added more than 105,000 seats - and so we look forward to being able to help many more people to travel this summer supported by our industry-leading flexible customer policies which means they can book with confidence.

“Over the past six months, we have successfully undertaken a major restructuring and cost reduction process alongside maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet with significant liquidity and managing our cash burn better than expectations.

“This has delivered results in line with guidance. Our agility, trusted brand and famous value means we are well placed to bounce back in the recovery.”