easyJet
Airbus 319 in easyJet colours IBTimes

Shares in easyJet were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the budget airline reported a rise in passenger numbers in December.

Passenger numbers were reported as rising 7.6 per cent from the previous December to 3,657,186.

Load factor, which shows the percentage of seats bought to those available, also increased from 85.4 per cent in December 2009 to 85.8 per cent in December 2010.

In the 12 months to December 2010 passenger numbers rose from the previous year by 7.9 per cent to 49,719,110. Load factor also increased 1.2 per cent from the previous 12 month period to 87.2 per cent.

By 10:25 shares in easyJet were up 0.81 per cent on the FTSE 250 to 458.70 pence per share.