easyJet has said it is preparing to add more new routes serving Scotland after achieving strong growth in passenger numbers in the latest year.
The budget airline revealed that profits fell 17 per cent in the year to 30 September as the company grappled with the challenges posed by the Brexit vote and competition in the industry
However, the head of easyJet’s UK business, Ali Gayward, said the group has been really pleased with the way it has been performing in Scotland.
The total number of passengers flying in or out of Scottish airports rose around 24 per cent, to 6.8 million during the latest year, up from 5.5m in the preceding period. Group passenger numbers rose around 10 per cent to a record 80.2 million.
The rise in Scottish business partly reflected the popularity of domestic services, especially links with London.
Flights between Scotland and continental Europe appear to be in strong demand in spite of the increase in the cost of overseas travel caused by the fall in the pound since the Brexit vote.
“We increased the amount of flying we did on routes such as Glasgow to Alicante, Palma, Jersey, and from Edinburgh to Madrid and Nice,” said Ms Gayward. “We also added frequency on key business routes such as Glasgow and Edinburgh to Amsterdam.”
easyJet will start a route linking Edinburgh with Sofia next month. It is evaluating more new route opportunities for next year.
The service linking Glasgow and Marseilles which easyJet launched last summer has gone very well.
Ms Gayward highlighted the fact the service seems very popular with French people travelling to Glasgow. Many of these customers appear to be spending some time in Scotland.
easyJet expects to fly 7.1m passengers in or out of Scottish airports in the current year.
In her last set of results before taking on the top job at ITV, chief executive Carolyn McCall said easyJet had performed well during a difficult year for the industry.
Headline pre-tax profits fell to £408m from £494m. The fall in the pound since the Brexit vote wiped £101m off profits. The fall in profits was not as bad as first feared thanks to a record performance in the final three months. Rival Ryanair had to cancel hundreds of flights after miscalculating pilot leave.
Trading in the current financial year has been “encouraging” helped by last month’s collapse of Luton-based carrier Monarch.
Ms McCall will be succeeded on 1 December by Johan Lundgren, who was previously deputy chief executive of TUI travel group.
easyJet shares closed up five per cent, 65p, at 1343p.
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