Flybe. today announced its trade sales for January have risen by 29% on last year’s revenue.Ê This increase in sales through travel agents and tour operators has exceeded the company’s targets by almost 18%.This impressive boost in sales reflects flybe.‘s successful growth plan, which has included the addition of new bases at Norwich and Leeds this year. Expansion of the company’s domestic network has consolidated flybe.‘s profile as one of the largest regional low fares business carriers in the UK.

Flybe.‘s new routes for summer 2005, launching from this month and available for booking now, include:

* Leeds to Exeter, Belfast and Southampton five times per week

* Norwich to Belfast City, Edinburgh and Glasgow six times per week and Jersey four times per week

* Birmingham to Bergerac, La Rochelle, Alicante, Almeria, Brest, Faro, Murcia, Palma and Malaga

* Liverpool to Belfast City, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Exeter, Southampton and Jersey

The successful trade sales figures are also largely thanks to flybe.‘s choice of booking platforms, and the airline is on course to exceed its 2004/2005 trade revenue targets.

Stephen Hobday, Head of Sales, flybe., said: “This success can be largely be attributed to our agreements with our preferred GDS partners, Galileo and Sabre Network, which give access to full content of fares in support of our commitment to the trade.

“20% of our total sales and 30% of our total revenue continue to be generated by the trade either via GDS or web platforms such as our Travel Agent Booking Site (TABS). Also, unlike many low cost carriers, we distribute ITX fares to tour operators in addition to the low fare initiatives that are available publicly.”
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