EasyJet in the red as pandemic results in its first ever full-year loss

EasyJet has recorded its first ever full-year loss in its 25-year history as the coronavirus pandemic sent it £1.27 billion into the red.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The group’s pre-tax loss for the year to September 30 comes after passenger numbers halved to 48.1 million as the crisis crippled the aviation industry.

It warned it expects to fly no more than around 20% of planned services in the first quarter of its year to next September as a relentless second wave of the pandemic batters demand.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

EasyJet’s losses compare with profits of £430 million the previous year.

Low-cost carrier easyJet has slumped to the first ever full-year loss in its 25-year history as the coronavirus crisis sent it nosediving into the red by £1.27 billion.Low-cost carrier easyJet has slumped to the first ever full-year loss in its 25-year history as the coronavirus crisis sent it nosediving into the red by £1.27 billion.
Low-cost carrier easyJet has slumped to the first ever full-year loss in its 25-year history as the coronavirus crisis sent it nosediving into the red by £1.27 billion.

On an underlying basis, easyJet reported pre-tax losses of £835 million against profits of £427 million the previous year, which was in line with expectations.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet chief executive, said the group had responded “robustly and decisively” to the crisis and cheered “welcome news” on a possible Covid-19 vaccine.

Read More
All 27 destinations you can fly to from Newcastle Airport as new flight announce...
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “While we expect to fly no more than 20% of planned capacity for the first quarter of 2021, maintaining our disciplined approach to cash generative flying over the winter, we retain the flexibility to rapidly ramp up when demand returns.

“We know our customers want to fly with us and underlying demand is strong.”

He added the group expected to “bounce back strongly”.

EasyJet’s capacity outlook for the quarter to the end of December marks a downgrade on earlier forecasts, having previously expected to fly around 25% of planned services.

It comes after the group flew just 38% of its planned capacity between July and September – normally the peak summer holiday season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

EasyJet said there had been some recovery in demand over the summer, but that “widespread quarantine measures introduced in September once again eroded demand and consumer confidence to travel”.

The Luton-based carrier saw a 10-fold increase in bookings for Canary Islands flights in the five days after the UK announced on October 23 it was lifting quarantine restrictions on people returning from the Spanish islands.

It boosted its capacity by 180,000 seats within 24 hours to “harness the demand” but leisure travel took another hit, with a second national lockdown introduced in England on November 5.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news, information and puzzles online. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu.