Route cuts and alterations are paying off

The Luton-based airline said passenger numbers had jumped to 2.3 million - up 25% from 1.8 million in September 2003.

In a bid to cut costs it axed routes to Zurich and reduced capacity to Copenhagen and Amsterdam. It also added 16 new routes and nine destinations.

In its trading update the group repeated that it expected annual pre-tax profits to rise by 16% to top �60m.

The group also revealed that load factor - the amount of seats filled on its flights - rose 1% to 86.9%.

Chief executive Ray Webster said "controlled and sustained growth" had continued during the month following the changes made over the summer.

"As indicated in September, pre-tax profit for the year is expected to exceed �60m ... making Easyjet one of the few European airlines to record an increase in profits this year," he added.