FlyBE., the UK’s third largest low fares airline, saw a 38.4% year on year
increase for September, carrying 298,088 passengers.
Load factor increased 12 percentage points to an average 78%. There were especially strong performances on the Southampton and Belfast City routes.
Network-wide yields were in line with expectations, with signs of improving trends for October/November. 
Internet bookings throughout September reached a record high of 76%, with direct sell bookings accounting for 85% overall.

Forward bookings on the new winter routes - Chambery, Edinburgh, Prague and
Salzburg from Southampton; Birmingham to Salzburg and Bristol to Toulouse,
(all commencing 26 October) have accounted for around 25,000 forward bookings since the routes went on sale in mid-August and FlyBE. is on course to carry one million passengers from Southampton Airport in its first year.

FlyBE. passengers significantly contributed to the central southern airport’s 79% year on year growth.

Other developments influencing FlyBE’s business during September are as
follows:

The FlyBE. brand is in the top four most spontaneously recalled airline brands according to a recent independent survey. Research completed last month shows that FlyBE. has established itself as a truly national brand following a nine-month aggressive marketing campaign.

New routes from Birmingham to Salzburg; Southampton to Edinburgh, Prague and Salzburg and Bristol-Toulouse commence from 26 October.  Southampton to Chambery - the first direct air link to this popular ski destination -
commences on 16 December.

FlyBE. continues to set industry trends and notes with interest British
Airways and bmi British Midland’s move to 1% travel agent commission from
January 2004. The airline expects this reduction in competitive differential to increase its share of the high yield business market on city routes.

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