5 Oct 2010 07:00
5 October 2010
Dart Group PLC ("the Group")
Trading Statement and Notice of Results
Dart Group PLC, the aviation and distribution Group, reports on trading for the first half of the financial year ending 31 March 2011 in its principal operating subsidiaries, Jet2.com, the northern based leisure airline, and Fowler Welch-Coolchain, one of the UK's largest physical distributors of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
The Group's leisure airline, despite the ash cloud, has had a satisfactory summer with improved yields and load factors and an encouraging first summer of operation at East Midlands airport. Jet2.com has recently announced its eighth northern base, with the addition of Glasgow for Summer 2011. Our ATOL protected holidays company, Jet2holidays.com, continues to grow strongly by meeting customer demand for attractively priced package holidays from local airports.
Our distribution business, Fowler Welch-Coolchain, which operates over 430 vehicles providing a high quality FMCG distribution service, including chilled, fresh and prepared foods, for a range of leading UK supermarkets, retailers and their suppliers, is delivering leading customer service and continues to grow in line with the company's expectations. Our new distribution centre at Heywood near Manchester is now operational and this is already enabling the business to attract new customers.
Overall, the Group's profit before taxation for the first half of the year will be ahead of the same period last year, although increased losses are expected in the second half of the year as a result of continued growth.
The Group intends to announce its interim results on 18 November 2010.
For further information contact:
| Dart Group PLC | Tel: | 0113 238 7444 |
|
Philip Meeson Group Chairman and Chief Executive |
Mobile: |
07785 258666 |
|
Andrew Merrick Group Finance Director |
Mobile: |
07788 565358 |
|
Andy Pedrette/ Charles Combe Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited |
Tel: |
020 7131 4000 |