easyJet PLC (LON:EZJ) said it has flown more passengers in May and increased its load factor, despite flight cancellations, caused by French and Italian industrial action and adverse weather.
The FTSE 100-listed company flew 7,79mln passengers in May, up 3.7% from 7.51mln a year ago.
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The load factor - a number of passengers as a proportion to the number of seats available - rose to 93.3% from 91.5%. a year ago.
Over 12 months to May, easyJet flew 83mln passengers, up 8.4% from 76.6mln a year ago, with the load factor rising 1.5pp to 93.5% from 92%.
The low-cost airline said there were 974 cancellations in May, equivalent to 2.5% of planned capacity and up on the 117 experienced in May 2017.
easyJet said around 600 cancellations were due to French and Italian industrial action with a further 300 arising from adverse weather conditions and ATC restrictions.
The company said May’s passenger statistics do not include its Tegel airline.
In early morning trading, easyJet’s shares rose 0.58% to 1,744.50p.