The company said it carried 1.9 million passengers in October, up by 18% on the same period of 2002.

That brought its total passenger numbers for the year to late October to 20.6 million, a figure boosted by its takeover of rival budget carrier Go last year.

October's load factor, or the number of passengers carried as a proportion of available seats, rose to 85.5% from 83.8% a year earlier.

Easyjet's passenger tally for October fell short of the 2 million carried by arch-rival Ryanair, which last year increased its capacity by buying KLM's no-frills subsidiary, buzz.

Press report

However, Ryanair's load factor for October dipped to 84%.

Analysts have increasingly begun to focus on load factor amid worries that budget airlines have been expanding too quickly.

Easyjet shares were up 1.25p at 278.25p in early trade.

Easyjet's latest passenger figures came as the Financial Times reported that the European Commission was poised to declare some of the incentives Ryanair has receive for setting up bases at regional European airports illegal.

Any such ruling would increase Ryanair's costs, and make it more difficult for the airline to negotiate advantageous deals with other small airports.