EasyJet to cut prices

easyjetEasyJet has announced that it will cut ticket prices now that the cost of oil has dropped.

Some reports believe the reduction could be an average of £2 on each fare.

It also reported that it had flown 14.9 million passengers in the last three months of 2014, an increase of 4.1% over the same time in 2013.

The carrier said that its planes had travelled with more people on board, a significant factor for all airlines. On average, each flight on board one of its 226 Airbus jets flew with 90% of seats taken.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive, said there had been strong growth in the number of leisure passengers heading to sunny destinations in October as well as on domestic flights in France.

The airline has been able to add some new routes in the last three months alongside increasing the number of flights, including a 10% rise in those in and out of Gatwick.

At present, easyJet operates 675 routes out of 135 airports.

The airline benefitted from lower fuel costs and expects its annual fuel bill to be between £90m and £130m less than it was in the previous 12 months.

But it also but faced higher charges at some airports and greater crew costs because of its new bases and increased maintenance costs as its fleet ages.

It predicted a pre-tax loss despite increased revenue, but a lower loss than in the same time a year ago.

Its shares hit an all-time high this month after a surge in passenger numbers.