Shares in easyJet have hit an all-time low after founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou dismissed reports he was about to take the budget airline private.

With hopes of a buy-out dashed, investors sent shares in the Luton-based company down by another three per cent to 145p - far off its 2002 peak of more than 500p and also its flotation price of 310p in 2000.

In a statement issued at the weekend and confirmed to the London Stock Exchange yesterday, Mr Haji-Ioannou said taking the company private would be "something of an extreme measure".

Tuesday July 13, 2004