In a trading update, easyJet on Thursday (17 July) revealed easyJet holidays recorded an £86 million pre-tax profit during the three months to 30 June (Q3) – a year-on-year uptick of £13 million.

The carrier now expects easyJet holidays to deliver full-year pre-tax profit in excess of £235 million, just £15 million shy of the £250 million "medium-term" profit target it set for the operator less than two years ago.

"EasyJet holidays’ continued strong performance is expected to deliver >£235 million PBT [profit before tax] in FY25, meaning a new medium-term target will be set towards the end of this year."

It comes after easyJet earlier this year said easyJet holidays, which was launched to the trade in 2020, was "on track" to achieve its £250 million profit target early.

The result contributed to a 21% £50 million year-on-year uplift in easyJet’s third-quarter pre-tax profits, which increased to £286 million "in line with expectations". "We see a positive outlook for the group for FY25 and beyond," said easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis, who later stressed easyJet holidays was "well sold" for the summer.

This is despite the likely impact of recent industrial action by French air traffic control staff,  plus "recent higher fuel costs", from which easyJet is expecting a £25 million hit – £10 million in extra fuel costs and £15 million in costs arising from ATC disruption.

Jarvis said: “We are extremely unhappy with the strike action by the French ATC in early July, which as well as presenting unacceptable challenges for customers and crew also created unexpected and significant costs for all airlines."

EasyJet said the late Easter, which this year fell into its spring quarter, had helped boost profits; passenger numbers during the quarter increased by 2.2% to from 25.3 million to 25.9 million on seat growth of 2% to 28.7 million, resulting in a 0.2% improvement in load factor.

The airline is 67% sold for the main summer season (three months to 30 September), one percentage point ahead of where it was at the same stage last year. EasyJet didn’t initially disclose how well easyJet holiday is sold for summer 2025, but Jarvis later confirmed the operator is 85% sold for the season.

However, easyJet stressed the well-documented trend towards an ever-later market did appear to be continuing, adding its full-year financial outcome would yet be dependent on "late summer bookings". "The trend towards later bookings continues to be seen," it said.

Speaking to TTG ahead of the peak summer season, head of trade distribution Natasha Marson said her team were gearing up for what she is describing as a busy "summer of success" characterised by the volume of lates yet – and likely – to be sold. "It’s a really late booking period at the moment," she said.

"Customers are looking and then travelling in such a short space of time near to their departure date, and that will get even closer now in this last leg of summer. But what we are seeing is that they don’t want to compromise their holiday – they still want to go.

Looking further ahead, easyJet is 19% sold for the first three months of its 2026 full-year (three months to 30 December), while easyJet holidays is "continuing to see good growth into this winter" and is currently 50% sold for autumn.

EasyJet operated 159,065 flights during Q3 using 344 aircraft, a 1.6% increase from the 156,487 flights it operated during the same period last year.