EasyJet says it has flown 94% of its planned schedule in the last seven days, despite an increase in crew testing positive for COVID and other issues that have affected performance.

In a trading statement, the airline said: “We have proactively managed this in advance by making pre-emptive cancellations as early as possible, enabling the majority of our customers to rebook onto flights departing the same day.”

The company expects to report a group headline loss before tax in the range of £535 million and £565 million for the six months ended 31 March 2022.

The airline reports ‘strong and sustained recovery in trading’ last month, adding summer bookings for the last six weeks have tracked ahead of the same period in 2019 as customers book closer to departure.

EasyJet holidays has sold over 70% of its programme already sold and ‘at significantly stronger margins compared to 2019’.

Chief Executive Johan Lundgren said: “Since travel restrictions were removed, easyJet has seen a strong recovery in trading which has been sustained, resulting in a positive outlook for Easter and beyond, with daily booking volumes for summer currently tracking ahead of those at the same time in FY19. 

“We remain confident in our plans which will see us reaching near 2019 flying levels for this summer and emerge as one of the winners in the recovery.” 

The airline added its continues to see strong demand for the fourth quarter of 2022, ‘especially on leisure routes where easyJet will be the biggest it has ever been’.

“This has been boosted by the addition of a further five aircraft worth of slots in Greece. easyJet will be the largest carrier into the main Greek Islands this summer,” easyJet’s trading update added.