easyJet December passenger numbers soar by 5.5%

Budget airline easyJet reported a 5.5% year-on-year increase in passengers for December to 5.88m. The load factor was up to 91.4% from 89.9%.

Cancellations rose to 580 from 330 a year earlier, largely due to adverse weather conditions causing around 400 and runway closures making up the majority of the rest along with industrial action.

The rolling 12-month passenger figure climbed to 81.6m, up 9.6% on the year to the end of December 2016.