Once again Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, has recorded an 8% growth in passenger load factor compared to the same period last year. The load factor for April was 72% compared to 64% in April 2014. Overall, the airline has experienced 2.5% growth in the year to date, flying over 338,000 passengers in the first four months of 2015.
By summer 2015, Stobart Air will operate 680 flights per week across 31 routes from 24 departures points throughout Ireland, the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
The airline has launched a number of new routes in recent months, including Dublin – East Midlands, Dublin – Newquay, Cornwall, and Dublin – Doncaster Sheffield.
Aer Lingus Regional was awarded the tender to provide air services on the Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes from Kerry to Dublin and Donegal to Dublin last November.
The Kerry to Dublin route experienced its 14th consecutive month of growth, increasing passenger numbers on the route by 37.8% in the year to date, and in the process contributing to an increase in connecting flights through Dublin’s transatlantic hub to North America.
The airline’s Donegal to Dublin route enjoyed its third consecutive month of growth, with passenger numbers up 22.1% for the month of April.
Martin Saxton, Chief Commercial Officer, Stobart Air, said the airline was “pleased to have experienced such a strong start in 2015. We are delighted to see this increase in load factor on our existing routes and also to see our new routes such as Dublin to East Midlands and Dublin to Newquay perform so well. The airline is now entering the summer period on a very firm footing and is well positioned to continue this phase of growth into the second half of the year.”
