His renewed calls came as Donald Trump suggested further assistance for US airlines, triggering 4% rises in the share prices of United Continental and American Airlines overnight.
EasyJet has raised more than £2.4 billion in cash since the crisis including through debt, share issues and selling and leasing back its planes but the group, like other airlines, is facing unprecedented difficulties ahead as the pandemic rolls through Europe.
Lundgren said he expected to be operating at 25% during the current quarter although the airline had retained the flexibility to ramp up flights if demand improved. That was worse than the 38% seen in the last quarter as travel restrictions have tightened in many countries.
Over the past year, passenger numbers crashed 50% to 48 million. In the fourth quarter, total revenues were about £620 million while costs were just under £700 million thanks to the reduced flying programme and other cost-cutting measures including job losses and flexible working deals with staff.
In a trading update for the year, easyJet said its total fuel cost would be £720 million but there will also be a charge of £145 million from the cost of its fuel price hedges which have been ineffective because of the collapse of the oil price.
Predicting future flying was difficult as bookings vary so rapidly according to government guidelines so there was no financial guidance for next year.
