BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - British low-cost airline easyJet Plc expects the
industry to face a "very tough" consumer environment next year, Chief Executive
Andy Harrison said on Thursday.
Carriers will face higher fuel costs as the U.S. dollar strengthens
against the euro and airlines which do not hold enough cash to foot the bill
"will not survive," he said.
"The world is gloomy out there," Harrison told journalists at a press
briefing.
Nonetheless, easyJet had no plans to cancel orders for new planes it has
placed with Airbus, he said. The company still aimed to grow and increase its
number of planes to 200 by 2011.
In the upcoming winter season, Harrison said he expected airlines to cut
the number of seats they sell by 8 to 10 percent, though that figure could rise
as more airlines go out of business.
EasyJet would keep its capacity stable from the year-earlier period,
Harrison said. The load factor, or the average percentage of seats filled on
each flight, in coming months would be "very similar" to last year, he said.
EasyJet shares were up 2.7 percent at 311 pence by 0941 GMT.
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by David Holmes) Keywords: EASYJET/
tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com
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