No-frills airline easyJet has seen passenger numbers increase significantly, following the acquisition of GB Airways.
easyJet bought the airline earlier this year, and saw passenger numbers increase by 26 per cent during August when compared with the same month last year.
A series of price reductions also assisted the airline during the crucial summer trading period.
Figures released today reveal the airline flew 4.56 million passengers during the month, compared with 3.71 million a year earlier.
The load factor – the proportion of seats filled - increased 3.9 percentage points to 91.3 percent, easyJet said today.
easyJet has also announced it will launch a new service from London Gatwick to Istanbul, Turkey, later this year.
Effective from December 12th 2008, the journey will cost from £35.99 one-way including tax.
The airline confirmed the new route to Istanbul will bring the total number of routes from Gatwick to 51 in winter 2008, and the airline expects over 100,000 passengers to travel on the new service in the first 12 months.
Arch competitor Ryanair yesterday said passenger numbers had grown by nearly a fifth despite the economic slowdown.
The Irish airline carried almost 5.8 million passengers in August – an increase of 19 per cent on a year earlier – while it filled 90 per cent of available seats.
The airline is thought to have benefited from its refusal to introduce a fuel surcharge, despite warning in July that it could make a full-year loss because of high oil prices.
Renegade Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary recently confirmed the airline is interested in launching a £2bn bid for Stansted airport, claiming the carrier can run the airport better than BAA can.
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