Travel firm Jet2 forecasts lower profit as later bookings trend worsens

By Yamini Kalia

(Reuters) -British low-cost airline and travel firm Jet2 tempered its profit outlook on Thursday as visibility was muddled by travellers booking tickets closer to departure, sending its shares plummeting and dragging down those of its European peers.

The company now sees operating profit towards the lower-end of the expected range of 449 million and 496 million pounds ($606.6 million and $670.1 million) for the year ending March 2026, as seats for the summer and winter remain to be sold.

It reported operating profit of 446.5 million pounds last year. Geopolitical disruptions and extreme weather have become pain points for travel firms, as vacationers are choosing to book hotels and flights closer to their departure dates to avoid unforeseen expenses.

British inflation also looks set to hit 4% this month, likely forcing Britons to curb discretionary spending like vacations.

Jet2 said on Thursday that average holiday prices are rising slightly, and the company plans to maintain "attractive pricing" to lure customers.

Jet2 added it was exercising "capacity discipline in a less certain consumer environment" as the later booking trend has become more pronounced since its July update, and its flight-only booking options have become "increasingly attractive".

The company, whose "Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday" advertisement has become a viral sensation on social media platforms, reduced its seats on sale to 5.6 million from 5.8 million for the upcoming winter season.

"Although we are currently operating in a difficult market, we have a proven business model," CEO Steve Heapy said in a statement.

Jet2 shares fell as much as 25% to 1,209 pence on Thursday. If losses hold, the stock will record its worst one-day percentage fall since May 2020.

"It appears to us that flight-only volumes and package holiday pricing are holding up, but at the expense of flight-only pricing and package holiday volume growth," analysts at Panmure Liberum said.

Jet2's European rivals Ryanair, EasyJet, IAG, Wizz Air and TUI were also down between 2% and 4%.

Ryanair - Europe's largest low-cost carrier - said in August that bookings were strong, and the company kept its financial guidance unchanged.

($1 = 0.7402 pounds)

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia and Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Joe Bavier)