Robert Besser
21 Jul 2021

LONDON, England: Britain's EasyJet will fly 60 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity from July through September as the travel industry recovers in mainland Europe.

However, demand from British consumers is expected to catch-up within weeks.

EasyJet issued its most optimistic projections since the start of the pandemic almost a year and a half ago.

The jump in bookings has been led by the European Union, EasyJet officials reported.

Two-thirds of EasyJet bookings are now being in made throughout Europe. Normally, bookings were evenly divided between the U.K. and Europe, though company officials said British reservations should quickly pick up now that so many Britons have been fully-vaccinated.

"I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the UK demand will follow the same pattern that we're seeing outside the UK in mainland Europe," chief executive Johan Lundgren told reporters on Tuesday.

Lundgren has been one of the most vocal critics of Britain's restrictions on travel over the last two months.

Lundgren also said Britain should add more countries to its "green list" of low-risk destinations.

The airline's plan for adding flights in the July to September period is being matched by rivals Irish carrier Ryanair and Wizz Air.

EasyJet is the seventh1 largest airline in the world, with 342 aircraft and forty-eight million customers across 35 countries and 154 airports. The UK-based airline has operating bases in Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Gatwick, London, and Manchester. Its major international destinations are situated across Europe and Western Asia.