Low-cost airline easyJet reported a surge in winter revenues today after it increased baggage charges and bounced back from the previous year’s snow-hit performance.

The group, which operates more than 580 routes across 30 countries, said total revenues were up 16.7% to £763m in the three months to December 31, as it raised its first-bag charge by 16.9% to £4.70 per seat. Total fees and charges increased by 26.7% to £5.88 per seat.

The figures were also flattered by the weak performance in the same period in 2010, which was hit by extreme weather, grounding flights and costing the group £18m.

The absence of snow disruption in the period meant easyJet was able to keep its costs down, reducing cost per seat excluding fuel by 1.6%, while it also took advantage of retrenching competitors, which cut capacity in the face of higher costs.