Sky’s the limit for Jet2

THE number of passengers flying with Jet2 has increased by more than 50% proving there's no stopping the low-cost airline's soaring growth.

During the six months to September 30, 2.6 million people flew with Jet2 compared to 1.7 million in the same period last year.

The number of destinations has also risen dramatically from 49 to 77 boosted by the popularity of its Northern airports in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

In December flights to skiing destinations Geneva, Salzburg and Chambery will start as well as increased services to the Canary Islands. The airline has also confirmed eight new destinations for next year including Hambourg, Madrid, Jersey, La Rochelle, Avignon, Sardinia, Cyprus and Crete.

Jet2holidays.com, the airline's package holiday business which was launched in February, is expected to make a “significant” contribution to passenger numbers.

Its success has helped parent company the Dart Group record a 27% rise in turnover from £198.8m to £252.9m. Pre-tax profits are up by 15% to £18.4m from £16m for the same period in 2006. Aviation revenues also soared to an impressive 33%.

Fowler Welch-Coolchain, the group's logistics arm, also posted a growth in sales in both its chilled and ambient business with turnover increasing by 11% at margins slightly behind the same period last year.

However, Philip Meeson, Jet2's chairman, said that the group expected second half performance to be in line with last year, principally driven by a combination of winter revenues being lower than anticipated and an increase in aircraft maintenance costs.

“The group's underlying profitability for the year will therefore be significantly reduced from last year, reflecting the investment made in growing the scheduled airline operations, which have seen passenger growth of more than 50% in the first half of the year.

“We believe this investment in the growth of the airline leaves us well placed to improve profitability going forward.”