BUDGET airline easyJet has hailed a record bounce-back after it saw sales more than double in its peak season.

The carrier said it expects to deliver underlying pre-tax profits of between £470 million and £490 million over its final quarter to September 30 as passenger numbers soared to 24 million and revenues leapt to around £2.5 billion from £1 billion a year ago.

It signalled resilient demand despite the cost-of-living crisis, with its flight programme during October and Christmas weeks back to levels seen before the pandemic.

The group is expecting to fly 20 million seats in the last three months of 2022 - up 30% on a year ago - while it added it was already seeing demand for next summer.

Chief executive Johan Lundgren claimed the airline benefits when consumers focus on getting value for money during financial turbulence.

He said: "When households are coming under pressure... they gravitate towards value.

"That is actually a good thing for us because we are primarily known for value for money."

Mr Lundgren added: "Despite the difficulties that households have, we know that holidays and travel are top of the list when people prioritise what they want to do with their disposable income.

"Clearly there is uncertainty out there but, as we speak now, we have good booking momentum."

The carrier insisted that efforts to tackle staff shortages and disruption meant its operational performance since the beginning of July was now better than in the final quarter before Covid hit.

It comes after holidaymakers were hit by flight delays and cancellations alongside lengthy queues as airports struggled to cope with the sudden ramping up of demand for overseas holidays.

Airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick told airlines to cut their flight schedules following scenes of chaos as staff shortages left them struggling with baggage handling, air traffic control and security.

EasyJet said it booked around £200 million in disruption costs over the year after the recent airport woes, up from £126 million in 2020-21.

It is still on track to narrow full-year headline losses of between £170 million and £190 million - down from £1.14 billion losses in the previous year.

Mr Lundgren said: "EasyJet achieved a record bounce-back this summer with fourth-quarter operating profit expected to be between £525 million and £545 million and passenger numbers almost doubling versus last summer to 24 million.

He added: "Our summer 23 season went on sale last week and we were filling the equivalent of more than four A320 aircraft a minute in the opening hours, demonstrating the continued demand."

Mr Lundgren flagged an "uncertain" wider economic backdrop, but said "easyJet is Europe's largest operator at primary airports with one of the strongest balance sheets in the aviation industry".


Scottish renewable energy generation hits record high

RENEWABLE energy generation in Scotland has reached a record high, new figures show.

The 7,358 gigawatt hours (GWh) produced in April, May and June of this year was a 36% increase on the same timeframe in 2021 – and more than 25% greater than any second quarter previously recorded.


Record intake of apprentices

THE number of new electrical apprentices in Scotland has hit a 13-year high as the industry continues to grapple with skills shortages.

The latest rise in the number of new learners comes on top of a 35 per cent increase in 2021. Industry leaders have welcomed the inflow of new talent which is increasingly in demand as electricity plays a growing role in powering communications, transportation and heating.


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