Excel Airways has reported a 250 per cent rise in the number of its seats sold online after a £1.8 million promotional drive.
The Gatwick-based group, which specialises in charter services, said it expected demand to remain strong this summer as more holidaymakers choose to make their own travel plans.
The year-on-year increase in internet sales for the winter season helped turnover at the group increase 69 per cent to £67.4 million in the six months to April 30.
But losses for the quieter trading period rose to £7.6 million from £6.5 million as Excel took a £1.8 million hit from its promotion costs.
Excel Aviation, which arranges the sale of all seats flown by Excel Airways and acts as a seat broker for a number of other airlines, increased the number of seats sold by 16 per cent in the winter period.
The company employs about 500 people in the UK and flies to 75 destinations from bases at Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow.
Tuesday June 29, 2004
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