EasyJet said its largest ever recruitment campaign and investment in its “resilience” means it is in a better place than last year to deal with disruption at airports.
Last year, the budget airline had to cancel thousands of flights to minimise the disruption seen at UK and European airports as the aviation sector rebounded after the lifting of Covid restrictions.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said the airline took on about 3,000 staff during its largest ever recruitment campaign as part of its drive to “build resilience”.
He added: “We are talking to everybody [and we] have to be able to cope with things outside your control. We are very mindful of that.”
More: EasyJet reports strong summer bookings with capacity back to pre-Covid levels
However, he noted that customer satisfaction scores were back up to 2019 levels and the airline had a “robust performance” over Easter.
“We are very focused on working together with ground handlers and air traffic controllers to be in a better place than last year,” he said.
He noted there will be 15% more capacity in the network this summer and the war in Ukraine means airspace in Europe is more limited.
“We are not complacent but the actions that we and others have taken are coming through,” he said.
“We have been focused on providing a good level of resilience.”
His comments came as easyJet reported strong summer booking momentum after cutting winter seasonal losses by about £120 million, in a trading update for the six months to March 31.
Capacity for the peak summer three months is forecast to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 8% with 56 million seats available for the second half of the airline’s financial year between April and September.
He said fares over the past quarter were up by 31%, but said that equated to “a couple of coffees and a snack in an airport”.
“Absolute numbers are still within reach for lots of people especially in context of other products and services,” he said, citing research showing that consumers are prioritising travel and holidays.
About half of bookings for easyJet holidays are for all-inclusive properties – and 70% are for four or five-hotels, he added.
Top destinations are Majorca, Malaga, Alicante and Amsterdam.
Furthermore, Lundgren said typical trip durations are now returning to pre-pandemic levels.
They had been about six days on average before Covid-19 then rose to about 12 during the pandemic – and now are down to seven days.
Other changes in traveller behaviour mean that 23-24% of flight bookings are now made on the easyJet app compared with 16% before the pandemic.
Emma Carr, retail partner at law firm Gowling WLG, commented: “Shareholders will take confidence from these results. It looks like the new cost control measures, new route additions and a strong balance book has helped to keep the company steady as we predicted back in January.
“The focus will now be on the future and what more easyJet can do and offer to its customers to keep this trend.
“With that in mind its aims to decarbonise its fleet and offer a sustainable fuel alternative for air travel will be one to watch and will likely prove invaluable in the years ahead as the pressure to reach net zero by 2050 gathers further pace.”
- Agents are being offered discounts of up to £200 to pass onto customers booking with easyJet holidays until 11pm on May 1.
A special code – GETSET – will save travel agent clients up to £200 on bookings with a minimum spend of £2,000, while a saving of £100 on a minimum spend of £800 can be made.
The trade offer is valid on all holidays departing until the end of October 2024.
The operator’s head of distribution Kelly Walker said: “Our travel agent partners play a huge part in our continued growth and success, so we’re delighted to be offering up to £200 off our brilliant package holidays for their customers.
“We know that now more than ever, customers are turning to their trusted travel agents for great value as well a package holiday that’s perfect for them, and we’re confident that our promo will ensure they can offer that.
“We can’t wait to see our shared trade customers enjoying their holidays.”