Jet2 first-half revenue up 15% to record £5bn

Leeds-based Jet2 plc said it delivered another record performance in terms of passenger numbers, revenues and profitability in the six months to September 30, 2024.

Jet2 said its first-half revenue increased 15% to £5.085 billion and profit before taxation rose 20% to £791.4 million.

Interim dividend rose 10% to 4.4p per share.

Jet2 said it is on track to deliver profit before FX revaluation and taxation for the year ending March 31, 2025, ahead of market expectations.

Jet2 shares rose about 6% to £15.05 to give the firm a stock market value of about £3.2 billion. The shares are up roughly 20% in 2024.

The company said: “Winter 2024/25 on sale seat capacity is currently 14% higher than Winter 2023/24 at 5.11m seats. The closer to departure, later booking profile experienced during Summer 2024 has continued.

“Average pricing to date is displaying a modest increase for our package holiday product, with flight-only slightly ahead.

“With a material amount of the Winter 2024/25 season still to sell, we are currently on track to deliver Group profit before FX revaluation and taxation for the year ending 31 March 2025 ahead of market expectations, assuming no material extraneous events in the remainder of the financial year.

“Summer 2025, on sale capacity of 18.74m seats is approximately 9% higher than Summer 2024, including our new UK bases at Bournemouth and London Luton airports. Bookings and pricing at this very early stage are in line with management expectations.”

Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said: “We are delighted to have delivered another record financial performance during the first half of the year. This result continues to demonstrate that our end-to-end package holidays and scheduled holiday flights, underpinned by our Customer First approach, remain popular and resilient products …

“Even in difficult economic times, the annual overseas holiday remains a highly valued and eagerly anticipated experience, often taking precedence over other discretionary spend.

“As a result, we are confident that our proven business model –anchored to delivering a fantastic customer service with a well-established, trusted holiday brand – offers customers a compelling value proposition.

“With our extensive product range, appealing flight times and truly variable duration holidays, customers have plenty of choice and flexibility to be able to tailor their holiday plans to meet their individual budgets.”