EasyJet has seen a 400% surge in bookings over the Christmas period as travel restrictions relax.
Despite the recovery, the company said it expects a £1.1bn pretax loss for the year and hopes to fly 70% of pre-pandemic levels this quarter.
“It is clear recovery is underway. Business travel is returning to easyJet with corporates and SMEs attracted by our value, network and approach to sustainability,” said Johan Lundgren, chief executive.
“We have seen city breaks beginning to return alongside growing demand for leisure travel from customers looking for flights and holidays to popular winter sun destinations including Egypt and Turkey.”
The group has added 100,000 seats to destinations including Egypt, Turkey and the Canary Islands, which have been popular this autumn.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, commented: “Finally, the dark clouds are parting and are letting some bright light in. Restrictions are being eased, rules simplified, and travellers are regaining their appetite to fly once again.
“EasyJet has declared ‘the recovery is underway’, with losses narrowing and strong enough bookings to warrant increasing capacity for the last three months of 2021.
“That’s helped by decent demand for a week in the sun during the October half-term, with individuals eager to get a slice of sea and sun that many were denied this summer and last year.”