The intense heatwave across southern Europe has had no impact on UK bookings but serves as “a reminder of what is ahead”, according to easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren.
Speaking as easyJet announced its results for the three months to June, Lundgren said: “We’re not seeing any impact at all on bookings from the heatwave.”
He noted: “People from the UK have gone to places like Egypt and Turkey which have high temperatures in August for a long time. It doesn’t seem to deter people.”
Lundgren added: “People on holiday will have air-conditioned hotel rooms, be sitting by a pool or swimming. It’s not the same as living there where a lot of people don’t have air conditioning.”
More: Holidaymakers undeterred by heatwave in Europe and US, reports trade
Med heatwave alert extended to Greece and Spain
He insisted: “We’re not seeing the heat deter people [from booking]. But from a climate point of view the temperatures we’re seeing are a reminder of what we have ahead of us.”
Lundgren rejected a suggestion that some in the aviation and travel industries had failed in the past to take the climate crisis seriously.
He argued: “You have to differentiate between what is climate and what is weather, but this [heatwave] is consistent with what we know [about climate change].
“This realisation has been here now for some years. There is understanding of the impact of CO2. The whole industry is taking this seriously. Now it’s about how quickly we can get there.
“We need to make sure we’re doing what we can to accelerate our pathway to net zero [and] we need to be able to demonstrate that to governments and the public.
“We have to be able to contribute less CO2 and still be able to grow.”
EasyJet recorded a pre-tax profit of £203 million for the three months to June. It reported a 7% rise in passengers year on year but a 22% increase in the average fare.
The budget carrier’s revenue per seat was up even more year on year at 23% owing to increased ancillary sales and Lundgren forecast “a strong outcome” for the full year to September.
However, he noted: “The whole industry is seeing challenging conditions this summer.
“More constrained airspace and flow rate restrictions are resulting in unprecedented air traffic control [ATC] disruption as well as increased ATC strike days.”
The airline operated 5% more capacity in the quarter than in the same period last year and will operate 15% more in the three months to September. It will increase capacity for the winter season by a similar amount.
More: Holidaymakers undeterred by heatwave in Europe and US, reports trade