British airline EasyJet expressed optimism about the upcoming summer travel season, reporting stronger demand for flights and holidays and affirming that bookings are ahead of last year’s pace. The carrier said it remains on track to meet market expectations for full-year profits, despite posting a seasonal loss in the first half of the financial year.
In its results for the six months ending March 31—typically a quieter trading period—EasyJet reported a pre-tax loss of £394 million. The figure was in line with analyst expectations and marked an improvement when adjusted for the later timing of Easter this year, which affected comparative figures.
Looking ahead, the airline said it was experiencing a “positive build” in demand for both flights and its growing holidays division. EasyJet said this trend supports its forecast of £703 million in pre-tax profits for the full year and keeps it on course to hit a medium-term goal of £1 billion.
“We continue to see strong demand for leisure travel into the summer, with booking trends running ahead of last year,” the airline said in a statement. “Our holidays business is growing rapidly and remains a key part of our long-term strategy.”
EasyJet’s upbeat guidance mirrors that of rival Ryanair, which earlier this week said its summer bookings were tracking 1% above last year. However, not all travel operators share the same outlook. TUI, Europe’s largest tour operator, reported a slight 1% dip in bookings earlier this month and cautioned that 2025 could prove challenging, especially in Germany, its largest market.
Despite its broad European footprint, EasyJet’s largest market remains the UK. The airline said it was monitoring the potential impact of newly proposed U.S. tariffs on its cost base and supply chain but noted that the implications remain unclear.
Meanwhile, EasyJet continues to suspend flights to Tel Aviv due to ongoing instability in the region resulting from the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Despite the relatively positive update, EasyJet shares fell 3% in early London trading on Thursday, as investors digested the winter loss and awaited signs of sustained profitability in the peak summer season.
With demand for air travel recovering steadily, EasyJet’s focus now turns to delivering a strong performance in the coming months and capitalising on resilient consumer appetite for holidays and leisure flights across Europe.
