July figures released by budget airline easyJet have revealed the carrier increased its passenger numbers in July by 8% over the same month last year.
The improved monthly performance saw load factor also increase by 0.8 of a percentage point to 92.5% in July.
For the year to date easyJet has carried 57.8 million passengers, up from 53.8 million in 2011 in the period up to and including July, an increase of 7.5%.
Overall load factor for the year to date stands at 88.8% compared to 87.2% up to the end of July last year.
EasyJet said demand on routes serving beach resorts remained strong due to the poor UK weather but July’s passenger growth was lower than the 9.7% reported in June.
The carrier attributed this to an ‘Olympics effect’ with people holidaying earlier in order to return in time for the Games.
EasyJet claimed while passenger numbers were up revenues may not have enjoyed a similar increase due to the number of seats it has given away and the number of staff flying with the airline.