EasyJet passenger numbers rise

EasyJet saw passenger numbers rise by more than 17% in February over the same month last year. The no-frills airline carried 1.86 million passengers last month against 1.58 million the same period in 2003. The passenger load factor was maintained at 89%, the same as a year earlier. In the 12 months to the end of February, EasyJet flew 21.5 million passengers. The monthly passenger figures came the day after the airline announced two additional destinations – Budapest and Prague – would be served from its second German hub at Dortmund. The additional services from 16 September will bring the number of routes served from Dortmund up to eight. From the summer the carrier will be operating 24 routes from Berlin and Dortmund as part of a push into Germany and Eastern Europe. Additionally, EasyJet is adding a 13th route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with the start of flights to Basle in Switzerland on 28 March with one-way fares starting at £17.99. Report by Phil Davies