Easyjet attracts more passengers

Easyjet flew more than four million passengers during September

The budget airline Easyjet has been flying more passengers, despite the economic downturn, the company said.

Passenger numbers rose 22% between September 2007 and last month at the company, based at Luton, Bedfordshire.

Easyjet said its planes were also fuller than last year. Aircraft were 86.9% full in September - almost 2% higher than the same month in 2007.

However the firm is being hit by high oil prices, and has warned its annual profits could be 42% down on last year.

It is facing an increase of as much as £185m to its annual fuel bill.

The company hopes to offset more than 50% of the oil price increases by carrying more passengers and cutting costs.

Easyjet has cut capacity by 12% at Stansted this winter to focus on Gatwick and the GB Airways business.

It flew more than four million passengers in September, with numbers boosted by the acquisition of GB Airways.