Low-cost airline Easyjet has broken its annual pre-tax profit record after carrying 37.2 million passengers in the past year. Earnings were up 56% to £201.9 million.

Flights were 84% full, on average. In the year to September 30, it added eight destinations and 46 routes. In total, it has 289 routes, using 77 airports in 21 countries.

The sharp rise in profit has helped to offset higher fuel charges and the doubling of air passenger duty for UK customers.

It grew revenues by 11% to £1.79 billion in the period, with passenger numbers up by 13% on last time.

Fuel cost pressures remain an issue, but there is some small comfort in oil prices being priced in dollars, currently a weak currency.

Andy Harrison, Easyjet chief executive, said: 'Despite challenging conditions, revenue, profit and return on equity have all shown strong improvements reflecting the success of our focus on low cost with care and convenience.'

Analysts are less enthusiastic about EasyJet's prospects. Consensus forecasts suggest 27% profit growth in 2008, but stockbroker Collins Stewart believes this number will be cut. 'EasyJet is forecasting flat unit revenues in the first half and growth in the second. We suspect (the latter) is entirely driven by ancillary growth – baggage charges predominantly,' said analyst Andrew Fitchie.