Aer Lingus achieved an improved performance over the key summer months of July and August compared to the same period last year.
The Irish carrier said it traded ahead of the equivalent two months of 2010 due to an improved revenue performance and an ongoing cost cutting programme. The trading update came as the airline hosted an investor day ahead of its third quarter interim management statement on November 3.
Yield per passenger for July and August increased by 4.6%, with passenger numbers up by 1.4%. “Year to date passenger yields are 7.1% ahead of prior year and year to date passenger volumes have now stabilised compared to the same period in 2010,” the airline said.
Ancillary revenue per passenger increased by 5.1% year on year and is now in line with 2010 on a year to date basis. Yields and volumes in September were also ahead of prior year.
“This revenue performance, combined with the ongoing benefits of the Greenfield cost reduction programme, meant that Aer Lingus traded ahead of prior year in July and August,” a statement said.