Easyjet has revised its profit forecast for 2006, claiming it will be up by as much as 50% compared to its earlier predictions of a 10%-15% rise.
The low-cost carrier expects revenue per seat to be up 3%-4% for the year.
In June, it carried nearly 2.59 million passengers – a 15.6% rise over June 2005.
Meanwhile, load factor was 87.6% compared to 85.6% in June last year.
For the three months to the end of June, revenues per seat were 17% higher than a year earlier, boosted by the timing of the Easter bank holiday.
Chief executive Andy Harrison said: “The improved revenue outlook leads us to increase our profit guidance.
“Previously our profit guidance for the full year was growth of 10% to 15%; we now expect pre-tax profit growth for the full year to be in the range of 40% to 50%.”
The announcement sent Easyjet’s share price soaring to a four-year high of 425p.
By Bev Fearis
