Ryanair expects to add two new destinations to its schedule in the October to December quarter and a further two or three new routes for next summer, according to chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary. Declining to disclose the proposed new routes for competitive reasons, Mr O'Leary said the airline is committed to increasing the number of aircraft seats available from Ireland to Britain and continental Europe.

"We will continue to offer the lowest fares and to increase seat capacity at the lower fares and to the UK and Europe," he said. Asked about complaints that some people have been unable to get the lowest £35 one-way fare to Paris and Brussels, Mr O'Leary said that "up to 65 per cent" of all the seats on those routes are sold at either the lowest fare of £35 one way, or the second lowest fare of £79 return.

"The reason people cannot get those fares is that they are already sold," he said, stressing the high passenger numbers using the routes.

Mr O'Leary said the company's direct sales operation, launched last February, had made "a significant contribution", accounting for 35 per cent of sales. He acknowledged that customers were having problems getting through on the telephone lines. "We were not able to gear up fast enough to cope with the demand," he said.

Travel agents accounted for 65 per cent of ticket sales, he said. Earlier this year Ryanair faced a threat of a boycott by travel agents when it cut the commission paid to them on ticket sales from 9 per cent to 7.5 per cent.