Flybe – The UK’s top domestic airline

Flybe has announced it is now the UK’s number one domestic airline following CAA April/May statistics which confirm it has achieved three major corporate milestones.

• The Flybe brand carried the largest number of passengers in the UK domestic marketplace by three clear percentage points
• Flybe, even without its franchise partner, Loganair, carried more domestic passengers in the UK than any other airline
• Flybe carried more domestic passengers to and from London Gatwick than any other airline

Overall, the Flybe brand carried 26% of the total UK domestic passengers that flew during April, with its closest rival Easyjet landing behind with 23%.

In terms of total passenger numbers Flybe, not including franchise partner Loganair, still topped the table with 451,413 passengers, ahead of all competitors including easyJet, British Airways, the BMI Group and Ryanair.

Equally significant is the stunning achievement that in April and May, just a matter of months after announcing that London Gatwick was to become its 14th UK base, Flybe carried more domestic passengers than any other carrier operating out of the country’s second largest airport.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer says: “Just six years ago, Flybe was a distant fifth in the UK domestic market. It’s a mark of how far we’ve come that, in less than a decade, we’re now number one – a phenomenal achievement. We now serve 35 airports in the UK, affirming our commitment to keeping Britain on the move through these challenging economic times.

“The numbers not only reflect the strength and success of our business model but also the fact that, in bucking the spiralling downturn of aviation trends, we have continued to add routes. Those out of London Gatwick in recent months such as Newquay, Dusseldorf and most recently, Leeds Bradford, have all exceeded expectations.

“I would like to thank all our loyal passengers in helping us achieve this magnificent achievement. In turn, Flybe reconfirms its commitment to ensuring it will continue to offer the quality affordable service that has helped it to reach this much sought-after Number One position - one which we are extremely proud of and we fully intend to maintain.”