EasyJet on course to overtake BA

NO-FRILLS operator easyJet is within weeks of overtaking British Airways and making the flag carrier Britain's third favourite airline in terms of numbers of passengers carried.

Earlier this week monthly traffic statistics showed for the first time that Stansted-based Ryanair is carrying more passengers than BA in Europe and the UK.

Today easyJet reported that it carried 1.69m passengers in November against BA's 1.76m, both trailing Ryanair's two million. When easyJet overtakes BA on European passenger numbers, the irony will not be lost on airline executives.

EasyJet's challenge comes after its takeover of Go, the budget airline set up by BA but then sold at a knockdown price to venture capital group 3i because of BA's fears of brand confusion among its customers.

The easyJet statistics showed it carried 14% more passengers this November than last. That is against Ryanair's 60% growth, though that is flattered by inclusion for the first time of the routes it inherited from its takeover of Buzz earlier this year. BA's figures showed a 1.5% fall in passenger numbers in the UK and Europe.

EasyJet said its aircraft flew 81.5% full in the month, down on its 12-month average of 84%. Ryanair said its aircraft were 83% full in the month against a 12-month average of 82%.

In a swipe at Ryanair, which this week cut some services, easyJet chief executive Ray Webster said: 'Customers demand trust in the airline and consistency of destinations.'

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