Flybe profits in strong take-off

Low-cost airline Flybe announced soaring half-year profits yesterday.

The budget carrier had pre-tax profits of €20m from March to September 2004, compared with a pre-tax profit of €4.7m for the same period last year.

With operating bases now covering much of Britain, Flybe has recently started 14 new routes and by the end of the year will operate 71 routes connecting 37 airports in seven countries.