Britain's EasyJet warns of Brexit hit

(MENAFN- AFP) Budget airline EasyJet warned Monday that Britain's June 23 referendum decision to quit the European Union will hurt its business over the next six months.

The British carrier said the vote would create uncertainty in the economy and among consumers this summer.

The impact would cut revenue per seat -- a key measure of business efficiency for airlines -- by some five percent "at least" in the six months to September 30 when compared to the same period last year, it said in a statement.

EasyJet said it had been buffeted by 1,061 cancellations so far in April-June period because of a French traffic controllers' strike, congestion at London-Gatwick airport and bad weather.

Combined with the effect of the May 19 crash EgyptAir flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo, in which 66 people were killed, the drop-off in consumer demand had knocked about £28 million (34 million euros/$38 million) off pre-tax profit in the April-June period, it said.