Jet2 PLC (AIM:JET2) has said full-year profit should exceed market expectations after record results and passenger figures over the first half of the year.
Revenue climbed 15% to £5.09 billion in the six months to September, aiding a 16% increase in pre-tax and foreign exchange adjusted profit to £772.4 million.
Passenger numbers climbed from 11.97 million to 13.34 million in the meantime, Jet2 said in a statement, as package holiday and flight-only sales both grew, alongside capacity.
“Even in difficult economic times, the annual overseas holiday remains a highly valued and eagerly anticipated experience, often taking precedence over other discretionary spend,” chief executive Steve Heapy commented.
Jet2 added a trend of more passengers booking flights “much closer to their departure date” had emerged over the half year and continued into the winter months.
Capacity for upcoming winter flights was 14% ahead of last year at 5.11 million seats, the company noted, after ten new Airbus A321neo jets entered service over the first half.
Pre-tax and foreign exchange adjusted profit was likely to beat the company-compiled average market forecast of £541 million over the full year as a result, Jet 2 said.