=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/n/a/2008/11/06/financial/= f012531S23.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, November 6, 2008 (AP) EasyJet passenger numbers rise 18 percent in Oct (11-06) 09:58 PST LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) -- EasyJet PLC, Europe's second largest discount airline, said Thursday it carried 18 percent more passengers this October than it did in the same month last year, helped by acquisitions of rivals in the face of an economic downturn. The airline's passenger numbers have risen consistently since it took ov= er rival British carrier GB Airways Ltd. earlier this year. The 104 million pound takeover allowed EasyJet to increase flight offerings from its key London Gatwick base. EasyJet said it flew 3.96 million people in October, compared with 3.34 million in October of 2007. Over the same period, the load factor — or proportion of seats filled — rose 1.4 percentage points to 84 percent. Shares rose 3.6 percent to 316.5 pence ($5). Ryanair is Europe's largest budget airline. ----------------------------= ------------------------------------------ Copyright 2008 AP <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".