Jet2.com says it is optimistic about current trading after posting half-year results which showed a 10% rise in operating profit.
The airline and operator’s parent Dart Group reported an 8% rise in Jet2.com flight-only passengers to 3.07 million while Jet2holidays handled 777,000 holidaymakers, a rise of 21% year-on-year.
The overall net ticket yield of £79.99 was 1.6% down as early season demand was “slower than expected”. This was “particularly pronounced” in the Canary Islands and eastern Mediterranean destinations.
People on package holidays now make up 33% of all passengers flown, up from 31% at the same time last year, the company reported.
Underlying operating profit for the two businesses grew by 10.6% to £87.8 million in the six months to September 30 on revenue up by 16% to £824.1 million.
Jet2.com operated 54 aircraft from its eight northern bases over the summer.
Two aircraft which were based at Blackpool have been redeployed to other bases following the closure of the airport in October.
Company chairman Philip Meeson said: “We have been encouraged by the group’s underlying operating profit growth of 10%, particularly in light of the less than buoyant consumer demand and weak market pricing experienced in the early summer months.
“And, with winter 2014/15 leisure travel bookings performing in line with expectations, the board is optimistic that current market expectations for full-year operating profit, before adjusting for the exceptional provision of £17 million, will be achieved.”
The company is introduced four new destinations for summer 2015 – Antalya in Turkey, Enfidha in Tunisia, Kefalonia in Greece, and Malta.
As previously reported Dart Group has put aside £17 million towards possible passenger compensation claims for historical flight delays over the past six years.
The move is being taken after the Supreme Court rejected the company’s appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling which held that a technical defect was not an extraordinary circumstance and delay compensation may be payable under EU Regulation 261.