Easyjet confident passengers will still want to fly after terror attacks

EasyJet has said the Paris terror attacks will have a minimal impact on the budget airline as “resilient” passengers will still want to travel.
File photo dated 15/06/15 of an easyJet passenger plane at Stansted Airport in Essex, as the airline said the Paris terror attacks will have a minimal impact on the budget airline as "resilient" passengers will still want to travel. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday November 17, 2015. Shares in easyJet, which focuses mainly on the western and northern European markets, dipped almost 4% on Monday morning as investors expressed concerns over the impact of the terror attacks on both the travel and leisure sectors. See PA story CITY EasyJet. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA WireFile photo dated 15/06/15 of an easyJet passenger plane at Stansted Airport in Essex, as the airline said the Paris terror attacks will have a minimal impact on the budget airline as "resilient" passengers will still want to travel. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday November 17, 2015. Shares in easyJet, which focuses mainly on the western and northern European markets, dipped almost 4% on Monday morning as investors expressed concerns over the impact of the terror attacks on both the travel and leisure sectors. See PA story CITY EasyJet. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
File photo dated 15/06/15 of an easyJet passenger plane at Stansted Airport in Essex, as the airline said the Paris terror attacks will have a minimal impact on the budget airline as "resilient" passengers will still want to travel. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday November 17, 2015. Shares in easyJet, which focuses mainly on the western and northern European markets, dipped almost 4% on Monday morning as investors expressed concerns over the impact of the terror attacks on both the travel and leisure sectors. See PA story CITY EasyJet. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Shares in easyJet, which focuses mainly on the western and northern European markets, dipped almost 4% on Monday morning as investors expressed concerns over the impact of the terror attacks on both the travel and leisure sectors.

However, easyJet communications director Paul Moore said any disruption would be brief, adding that the airline had not changed its growth forecasts for 2016.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Obviously our thoughts are with those affected,” he said. “But we have dealt with such events before and it is typically a short-term impact.

“At the weekend we saw some passengers not wanting to fly, which is perfectly understandable, but longer term we do not see any material effect. People are resilient.

“Both in and out of Paris, people will continue to want to fly.”

The budget airline has just revealed bumper pre-tax profits of £681 million for the 12 months to the end of September, in line with its upgraded guidance. This is up £105 million on last year and represents the fifth straight year of record profits.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The firm also carried an additional four million passengers during the 12-month period to reach a total of 68.6 million.

EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall said the airline’s outlook for the longer term remained positive and she expects demand in its markets to be sustained.

“We will see passenger growth of 7% a year, sustaining margins through rigorous cost control and the benefit of fleet up-gauging, resulting in positive profit momentum,” she said.

“We remain totally focused on our network advantage, digital leadership and offering our customers great low fares and service.

“We continue to invest in profitable growth, ensuring our digital advantage and giving our customers good-value fares.”

Related topics: