EasyJet passenger numbers up 9.5% in May, load factor steady

Budget airline EasyJet has reported a rise in passenger numbers for May.

Passenger numbers were up 9.5% to 7.51m, while the load factor - which gauges how full the planes are - was unchanged at 91.5%.

On a rolling 12-month basis, passenger numbers rose 8.2% to 77.33m and the load factor ticked up to 91.9% from 91.4%.

Back in mid-May, the airline reported a loss of £212m for the six months to the end of March, partly on the back of a weaker pound and due to the timing of Easter.

This was worse than the consensus estimate for a loss of £176m and much higher than the £21m last year, as it missed out on around £45m from Easter not falling in the first half and suffered a negative net currency impact of £82m.