United Kingdom-based low-cost carrier EasyJet during the
past six months increased its corporate travel share and now views managed
business travel as its biggest growth opportunity in the coming years,
executives said.
During a half-year results webcast for the fiscal year
beginning in October 2014, CEO Carolyn McCall said EasyJet's sales through
global distribution systems from October 2014 through March 2015 increased 59
percent from the same period a year prior, as EasyJet "continued to
leverage its relationships with travel management companies."
Additionally, sales of EasyJet's inclusive fares, which are available to
corporate travelers and TMCs and which include seat selection and one free checked
bag, rose 137 percent year over year, she said.
The carrier during the past six months also added to its
corporate-focused sales teams in Germany, France and the Netherlands, McCall
said.
EasyJet estimates it controls 3 percent of the European
short-haul managed air travel market, which leaves significant room for growth.
Corporate travel passenger growth "has been a very important part of our
yield strategy over the last three years, and it's well on track and performing
well," McCall said.
Also during the six-month period, EasyJet reported a profit of £5 million, compared with a loss of £41 million a year prior. Seat revenue increased 3.9 percent year over year to £1.73 million. Capacity increased 3.4 percent year over year, and traffic increased 4.5 percent. EasyJet's load factor increased 0.7 percentage points to 89.7 percent. Revenue per available seat kilometer increased 2.8 percent.