Weather disruption hits Flybe
Low-cost airline Flybe today said it flew 1.2% fewer passengers in the third quarter as it was forced to cancel nearly 2,000 flights during the pre-Christmas snow chaos.
The carrier, which joined the stock market in December, reported passenger numbers of 1.7 million in the three months to December 31, compared with 1.72 million a year earlier.
But it estimated passenger numbers would have been 4.8% higher with the weather effect stripped out.
A boost from additional charges and ticket sales growth helped revenues rise 1.5% in the quarter despite the disruption.
UK-based Flybe said January had got off to a good start against Britain’s big freeze seen a year earlier with the number of seats flown up 9% last month, or 2% with the weather effect stripped out.
