EasyJet Hit By French Air Traffic Strike

The number of people flying with easyJet jumped in May, despite fears sparked by recent terror attacks and a number of air traffic control strikes.

The budget carrier had 6.9m passengers in May, up 5.7% on the year before.

However, the airline's load factor - a measure of how full its aircraft are - fell a percentage point to 91.5%.

EasyJet (Other OTC: EJTTF - news) said it was forced to cancel 173 flights in May, thanks largely to poor weather conditions and strikes by French air traffic control workers.

To put that in context, easyJet operated around 50,000 flights in the period. The airline did not give a figure for how much the cancellations cost.

The month also saw the EgyptAir tragedy that occurred on the 19 May.

Last month, easyJet posted a half-year loss of £24m - down from a profit of £7m in the same period the previous year.

The company said attacks in Egypt, Paris and Brussels had put travellers off, and also blamed the falling value of the pound for eroding profits.

EasyJet is facing stiff competition from budget rival Ryanair, which has vowed to cut prices by 7% this summer .

In the three months to the end of March, Ryanair said it cancelled 500 flights.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "If other airlines want to compete with us on price, then we will lower our prices again.

"If there is a fare war in Europe, then Ryanair will be the winner."