EasyJet posted £455 million ($575 million) in pre-tax profits for the 12 months to end-September, an improvement of £633 million on last year, as the low-cost airline benefitted from strong consumer demand through the summer period. Revenue rose to £8.2 billion from £5.8 billion as the company posted a particular increase in ancillary revenues that now account for over £1 billion in earnings. Passenger numbers rose 19% to 82.8 million. EasyJet had experienced an “extraordinary performance this summer, and that is what we are continuing to see,” chief executive Johan Lundgren said on the company’s results presentation on 28 November. “People will prioritise their holidays,” he continues. “They will priorities that beach. And that is continuing into the winter.” Business travel has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels at the airline, although the bulk of revenue stemmed from leisure and visiting friends and relatives.

Virgin Australia will take delivery of six more Boeing 737 Max 8s during the second half of 2024, bringing its total commitment for the type to 14 units. The airline announced the extra aircraft on the same day that it took delivery of its third 737 Max 8. Fleet data shows that the aircraft, MSN 66635, is being leased from DAE Capital. Its previous two Max 8s, MSNs 65047 and 65045, were leased from China Aircraft Leasing. Virgin Australia did not reveal the source of the additional aircraft , but it appears likely that they will come from DAE Capital. The airline also has an order for 25 of the larger Max 10 variants that will start delivering from 2025, subject to certification and other approvals. “Travel demand remains high and we continue to grow and renew our fleet, enabling us to deliver great value and choice in the market,” comments Virgin Australia chief strategy and transformation officer Alistair Hartley. Virgin is also set to soon kick off an A$110 million ($72.2 million) cabin refresh of its 84 737NGs, which will make them consistent with the cabins of the Max jets. The airline says the first refurbished aircraft is scheduled to emerge from maintenance in early December, with the remainder of the fleet to undergo work over the next 24 months.

Finnair has repaid in full a €400 million ($437 million) capital loan from the Finnish state that was granted in March 2021.
Originally a hybrid loan issued to support the carrier through the pandemic, it was converted to a capital loan deemed an equity instrument in April 2022. Finnair drew down the entire amount through the course of that year. In a recent €570 million rights offering by the airline, Finland subscribed for pro-rata shares on the basis of its subscription rights. The state then paid the subscription price by offsetting it against the principal on the capital loan. Finnair has now repaid the remainder of the capital loan, €81.4 million, plus related interest and fees of €48.9 million. If the capital loan had not been repaid, it would have accrued around €52 million in interest and other fees in 2024. The Oneworld airline now has no loans that are deemed equity capital.