In a first-half (six months to 31 March 2023) trading update, issued on Tuesday (18 April), easyJet said it had extended its growth expectations for easyJet holidays from 50% year-on-year to circa 60%. "EasyJet holidays continued to benefit from strong UK demand," said the carrier, adding the brand was currently 80% sold for the summer.

It comes as easyJet itself said on Tuesday it was on course to "significant" reduce its pre-tax winter loss, and to exceed its current market profit expectations of £260 million for its 2022/23 full year (year to 30 September 2023). EasyJet said summer booking momentum was strong, with capacity set to return to pre-pandemic levels in its fourth (peak summer) quarter from July to the end of September.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet chief executive, also hailed the operator’s growth. "We see continued strong booking momentum into summer as customers prioritise spending on travel and choose airlines like easyJet... as well as easyJet holidays, which is continuing its steep growth trajectory as the fastest growing holidays company in the UK," he said.

EasyJet holidays was launched in November 2019 and is now licensed to carry more than 1.5 million Atol-protected passengers a year, making it the UK’s third largest operator by Atol size and the sixth largest Atol holder overall.