The popularity of no-frills travel showed no sign of tailing off for easyJet today, as the group registered a faster-than-expected jump in passenger numbers.
The Luton-based carrier flew 5.3 million people in the three months to December 31st - up 16.3 per cent on the same period last year.
EasyJet's load factor - which measures the proportion of available seats filled - was up to 82.4 per cent during the three months from 80.5 per cent in 2002.
And the average fare paid by customers was £39.87, compared with £38.62 last year.
Chief executive Mr Ray Webster told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Luton that he remained "cautiously optimistic" about the airline's performance for the year to September 30th.
He added that load factors and yields for the first half were expected to be above last year, given the current levels of forward bookings.