EasyJet addition enjoys a good year

Mar 8 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal

BUDGET airline EasyJet yesterday said its £103m acquisition GB Airways traded well during its transition from previous owner British Airways.

The group posted a 22% rise in passenger numbers to 3.24 million in February, with GB Airways contributing a 4.4% improvement to 201,000.

EasyJet said it was pleased that GB’s load factor, a key measure of how full the carrier’s planes were, remained strong during the month – up 7.9 percentage points at 90.5% – despite the airline’s winding down as a British Airways franchise.

GB is primarily a Gatwick-based operator, covering destinations across southern Europe and northern Africa with a fleet of 15 Airbus aircraft.

Despite the takeover at the end of last year, GB Airways has continued to operate under the BA brand but from the beginning of next month, all of its flights will operate under the EasyJet logo.

The load factor for EasyJet planes rose 1.4% to 84.3%, largely as a result of the impact of an air traffic control strike in France last month.

Passenger numbers were ahead 14.8% to 3.04 million.

British Airways this week highlighted tougher trading conditions when it said operating margins were likely to be 7% in the next financial year, rather than the 10% forecast to be achieved in this financial year.

It blamed the combination of weaker economic conditions, rising fuel costs and the impact of the its move to Heathrow Terminal 5.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus said total passenger numbers grew by 15% in February on the same period in 2007.