DESPITE passenger numbers increasing by almost 8% in June, NCB Stockbrokers says it is cautious about Aer Lingus’s prospects beyond the summer.

The impact of promotional offers meant no-frills operator easyJet kept its planes flying at near to capacity during June, figures showed today.

Budget UK airline easyJet said today that soaring fuel costs caused half-year losses to more than double as it warned that the rocketing cost of crude oil would put many players out of business.

Low-cost airline easyJet today said it carried 3.73 million passengers in March, an increase of 20.5% on the same month a year earlier.

Investors dived for cover today after bleak jobs data in the United States deepened recession fears in the world’s biggest economy.

Low-cost airline easyJet today said its £103m (€134.7m) acquisition GB Airways traded well during its transition from previous owner British Airways.

Barclays shares swung into positive territory today after the bank overcame an initially lukewarm reaction to full-year profits of £7.1bn (€9.4bn).

UK airline easyJet delivered a profits haul of £201.9m (€282.2m) today after flying 37.2 million passengers in the year to September 30.

The Government is being urged to help retain the Shannon-Heathrow service by bidding for four pairs of London Heathrow slots that have today been put up for sale by a London Gatwick-based airline.

Low-cost airline easyJet bolstered its network today with a £103.5m (€148.7m) deal to buy GB Airways, a franchise partner of British Airways.

TENS of thousands of passengers remained stranded last night as British Airways battled to clear a backlog of flights at Heathrow Airport following an end to unofficial action by its staff.

Britain's second largest full-service scheduled airline, bmi, has called on British Airways and Iberia to give up slots at London Heathrow.

Unions reacted with fury and the threat of legal action today to news that 400 jobs and 12 routes are to be cut at budget airline Buzz.

Low-cost carrier Ryanair today announced new flights from its German base.