Bristol Airport's biggest carrier, EasyJet is delaying plane orders from Airbus due to the downturn in the aviation market, the company revealed yesterday.

EasyJet announced the postponement of its Airbus planes as it announced annual profits were down 45 per cent to £110million in the year to September 30.

The Luton-based airline, which flies more passengers from the West than anyone else and is the biggest operator at Bristol Airport with 38 routes, is deferring the delivery of four Airbus A320 jets due for delivery in 2010.

EasyJet is due to take on more than 100 Airbus planes in the next four years.

Asked if the airline would postpone the arrival of more Airbus craft, a spokesman said: "It is a decision that is taken every quarter. Four is the number that has been decided now. There won't be any further news until our first-quarter results."

The hold-up in the orders is part and parcel of the close relationship that Airbus has with Europe's fourth largest short-haul operator.

EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison said: "Unlike many of our competitors, our Airbus contract provides us with a flexible approach to fleet growth, which we intend to make full use of in such uncertain economic conditions."

EasyJet said it would keep the rest of its committed orders under review "given the current uncertain economic climate", meaning that it could exercise its right to delay up to half the future deliveries by up to two years if it gives 18 months' notice.

The Airbus orders form part of EasyJet's strategy of updating its fleet of about 165 aircraft in order to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, bringing down transport costs and aviation taxes.

The airline intends to withdraw 11 larger planes inherited when it bought GB Airways and 12 Boeings, but admitted it is having trouble selling the aircraft because of the lack of credit available to potential buyers.

With the aviation industry as a whole braced for a further slowdown as a global recession looms, EasyJet may continue to struggle to offload its older craft.

How to manage the growth of the fleet during the recession has triggered a stand-off between founder and non-executive director Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and the rest of the board.

Sir Stelios, the company's largest shareholder with a 26.9 per cent stake, thinks the carrier should ease back on new purchases, or stop altogether, and pay dividends to investors instead of splashing out on further growth.