EasyJet, BA hold to summer optimism as vaccinations stutter

Britain’s two biggest airlines said they remain optimistic that European travel markets will revive this summer even as vaccination campaigns stutter and plans to reopen borders are in limbo. EasyJet said Wednesday that while it will operate no more than 20% of 2019 capacity in the current quarter, it’s ready to ramp up flights from May given enough demand. British Airways said UK plans to resume travel are headed in the right direction and that Europe should follow suit in coming months. There’s flexibility to rapidly boost operations and add destinations, EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said on a call, while cautioning that visibility over bookings is limited. The discounter lost as much as GBP730m in the first half through March, according to a statement. The airlines are talking up a travel rebound even as the likelihood of an imminent reopening remains uncertain. BA CEO Sean Doyle predicted a revival in EU states as immunizations gain traction, citing progress in Germany, and said he’s also hopeful highly profitable trans-Atlantic flights will reopen soon. Many commentators are less optimistic than the CEOs about a summer revival. <br/>