easyJet flying high as it battles tough headwinds

DESPITE a strong third quarter, easyJet is now running up against some turbulence.

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The no-frills airline’s underlying pretax profits flew 21% higher to £286million, boosted by strong demand and the timing of the Easter break. But the price of jet fuel has since shot up following military action against Iran, and it is proving to be stickier than crude oil prices. Meanwhile, the widespread disruption over French airspace due to an air traffic control strike is also weighing on the outlook. These are factors outside the group's control, but with the trend towards later booking patterns holding firm, passengers look to be holding out for last-minute bargains, which is also causing more unpredictability. That adds an extra degree of uncertainty across the peak travel period, which fa