Dart Group soars as passengers flock to sunnier climes

Jet2.com and Jet2Holidays owner Dart Group said it expects to exceed current market expectations for the year ending March 31st 2013 despite current economic headwinds.

The group said it had a strong summer as more passengers escaped the wetter than usual British summer weather for sunnier climes.

Jet2.com flew 3.6m passengers in the six months to September 2012, up 14% from the same period last year as yields and load factors increased.

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Jet2holidays, its holiday operation, enjoyed strong growth over the summer with 312,000 passengers booking holidays during the first six months of the year, up 158,000 in 2011.

"This significant growth has been achieved through further improvements to the Jet2holidays product range, and development of its online and high street distribution channels," Dart Group said in a statement.

Meanwhile its distribution business, Fowler Welch, continues to trade in line with expectations although margins are being squeezed, it said.

Its leisure travel operations are becoming increasingly seasonal as its grows the business. As a result, the group anticipates pre-tax profit for the first half of the year to be ahead of the same period in the previous year, with increased losses expected in the second half.

CJ