Easyjet hailed a ‘step change’ in bookings after ministers relaxed travel rules – with the airline pinning its hopes on a bumper summer.
The group said sales have surged since the Government announced Covid testing would be scrapped for fully vaccinated travellers.
Easyjet plans to run a record number of flights to beach hotspots such as Turkey and Greece later this year as families rush to go on holiday.
High-flyer: Easyjet boss Johan Lundgren (pictured) said the group believes ‘testing for travel across our network should soon become a thing of the past’
It also reported package holiday bookings were soaring –with Peel Hunt analysts saying this part of the business is likely to keep growing rapidly.
The budget airline slashed its losses in half in the final three months of last year, even though the Omicron variant knocked the number of travellers.
It lost £213million in the period, compared with a £423million loss in 2020.
Easyjet flew 11.89m passengers in the quarter, up from just 2.8million in 2020.
But its flights were only 67 per cent full in December – compared with more than 80 per cent in the previous two months – as holidaymakers rearranged their trips at the last minute because of Omicron.
Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the group believes ‘testing for travel across our network should soon become a thing of the past’.
Easyjet shares edged up 0.1 per cent, or 0.4p, to 635.8p yesterday.
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