LOW-cost airline EasyJet has moved to bolster its financial position and capitalise on the crisis among Europe's national carriers.
The Luton firm, which also bucked the trend by saying it was looking to hire more staff, will issue extra shares to raise £90m towards expanding its fleet and creating new routes in the short-haul market.
It was further buoyed by figures showing an 82 per cent increase in annual pre-tax profits to £40.1m and a 1.5 million year-on-year improvement in passenger numbers.
EasyJet's growth plans come as major European airlines cut thousands of jobs and scale back services after the September 11 terror attacks. The company wants to take some of those vacant slots, but faces a lengthy struggle with regulators to gain access to the routes.
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