(BFM Stock Exchange) – The British company falls despite increasing profits, sealed by the strike of French air controllers and the increase in fuel costs.

Easyjet published this Thursday, July 17, on Thursday, July 17, encouraging trips on paper: its before tax profit increased from 21.2% to 286 million pounds, or around 330 million euros, as the third quarter of its offbeat exercise, the period from April to the end of June. Its turnover also climbed clearly, taking 10.9% over a year, reaching 2.92 billion pounds.

These performances were brought by high summer demand and a favorable calendar, especially around Easter holidays. As for its subsidiary Easyjet Holidays, its travel agency, it displays a profit before tax of 86 million pounds up 18%. Profits increasing … but opposite winds.

Despite these positive figures, the British low-cost company sees its action falling 5.1% on the London Stock Exchange at the end of the session.

In question: annual prospects darkened by several cost factors. Easyjet has notably alerted to the financial impact of the strike of air controllers in France, who demand an improvement in working conditions and greater staff. These disengages occurred in early July, in high tourist season.

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Slower reservations, but ambitions maintained

The managing director, Kenton Jarvis, said he was “extremely dissatisfied” with this social movement which, according to him, “generated unacceptable difficulties for customers and crews”. The strike for July 3 and 4 cost some 15 million pounds, according to the company. Added to this is a significant increase in fuel prices (more precisely the “fuel jet” used by airlines), for a total impact estimated at 10 million additional pounds.

The UBS bank also stresses that the operational profit, of 293 million pounds, proves to be lower than expectations, housed at 314 million pounds, according to a consensus quoted by the Swiss establishment. It is the same for the benefit before taxes at 286 million pounds, against 295 million expected.

Despite these turbulence, Easyjet says that its annual prospects “remain positive”. The company is still counting on “good profits”.

This although the increase in its capacities (basically the number of links proposed) expected in the second half (+7%) is less dynamic than at the first (+12%).

The company also indicated that, for the fourth quarter, it had already sold the equivalent of 67% of its capacities. For the first quarter of the year 2025-2026 the rate is 19%

Nevertheless, Easyjet notes a change in the behavior of its consumers: reservations are made later, reflecting a more uncertain global macroeconomic climate.

In short, the airline remains on an operational positive dynamic, but faces unforeseen events weakening its profitability.

UBS believes that the indications given for the fourth quarter of the current financial year and the first quarter of the following financial year are positive. But the unfavorable winds due to the impact of fuel prices and strikes in France have enough to be sanctioned by the Marchée, she concludes.

By Lilas Bourdon