EasyJet managed to overcome more than 1,000 flight cancellations caused by the ‘Beast from the East’ to increase passenger carryings in March.
The low-fares carrier was forced to cancel 1,274 flights – equivalent to 3% of planned capacity and up on 575 cancellations in March 2017.
More than 1,000 were caused by adverse weather conditions across Europe and a further 200 due to French and Italian industrial action, the airline reported today.
Despite the disruption, March passenger numbers rose by 3.4% to more than 6.5 million with a load factor up by 0.7 percentage points to 93.4%.
The March performance gave easyJet a running annual total of 82.4 million passengers, up 8.6% on the previous 12 months.
Passenger numbers continue to be “in line with expectations” at the airline’s new base at Berlin Tegal airport.
Further details are to be provided with first half results on May 15.