Easyjet profits fall as it bids to become the world’s first “zero carbon” airline

EasyJet reported a fall in profits today, after a "difficult 2year driven by higher fuel costs, Brexit uncertainty and weakness in consumer confidence. Profit was still towards the top end of expectations, however.

Pre-tax profit fell 26% to £427m in the year to 30 September, down from £578 the previous year. Revenue rose by 8.3% to £6.385m and passenger numbers increased too by 8.6% in the 12 months to 30 September to 96.1 million but revenue per seat fell to just £60.81. With cost per seat including fuel at £56.74, the airline makes a just £4.07 per seat before tax. Dividend per share fell to 43.9p, down from 58.6p in 2018.

In a bid to head off the rise of "flight shaming" slowly creeping cross Europe, Easyjet said it will become the world's first "zero carbon" airline. Offsetting carbon emissions will cost £25m in the next year. Chief executive Johna Lundgren says this is just an "interim measure", with the company "supporting the development of new technology including electric planes to reinvent aviation".

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Easyjet is hoping to capitalise on the demise of tour operator Thomas Cook earlier this year by launching its own package holiday business offering"more than 100

amazing beach and city holiday destinations", which it says will be up and running before Christmas, with booking available for winter 2019 and summer 2020. Around 20 million people take flights with EasyJet every year, it says, but just half a million book accommodation with them.

It is not worried by Brexit, it says, despite admitting that uncertainty surrounding leaving the EU has contributed to its fall in profits. It boasts that it is in "a state of full preparedness for all possible Brexit outcomes", with air operators certificates in the UK, Switzerland and Austria, and 50% of its equity held by EU nationals.

Easyjet shareholders seem to be happy with the result.s The share price was up by almost 4% in today's early trading.