EasyJet Slips Off Pace Set by Ryanair on Terror, Brexit Squeeze

  • Passenger count gained 6.6% in 2016, versus 15% at Irish rival
  • December numbers show stronger growth, seat-occupancy levels
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
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EasyJet Plc’s passenger count increased at less than half the pace of its low-cost rivals last year as Europe’s second-biggest discount carrier struggled with its exposure to the British and French travel markets.

Customer numbers increased 6.6 percent to 74.4 million in 2016, Luton, England-based EasyJet said Friday. That compares with a 15 percent gain at low-cost leader Ryanair Holdings Plc and advances of 19 percent and 14 percent at Wizz Air Holdings and Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA respectively.