EasyJet flies higher as it lifts full-year profit guidance after record August

(ShareCast News) - Shares in EasyJet surged after the budget airline lifted its full-year profit guidance as it said record passenger numbers in August offset higher costs.The airline now expects pre-tax profit for the year to the end of September to be between £675m and £700m, up from a previous range of £620m to £660m.It said a strong revenue performance more than offset the significant cost headwinds that the business faced this year, with greater-than-expected disruption across the network particularly in April, the impact of the two fires at Rome Fiumicino airport, the one-off £8m settlement with Eurocontrol and costs associated with higher load factors.EasyJet said its load factor for August 2015 was 94.4%, a new record for any month, while passenger numbers for the month were 7.06m, which was also a record and is the second successive month of over 7m passengers.Chief executive Carolyn McCall said: "These figures demonstrate the strength of easyJet - with its strong customer focus and its unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares, friendly service and industry leading digital innovations."This platform meant that easyJet was best placed to maximise the strong late summer demand from UK passengers to get away to beach and city destinations across Europe and will enable the airline to set new records for full year revenue and profit."At 0916 BST, shares in the company were up 6.6% at 1,782p.