Regional passenger numbers at Aer Lingus rose to 105,000 last month, an increase of 40 per cent on July 2011, according to figures published yesterday.
The number of long-haul passenger numbers jumped 2 per cent to 99,000 in July, while short-haul numbers decreased 1 per cent to 905,000 from July 2011.
Overall, however, passenger numbers were down 0.7 per cent to 1,004,000.
The airline’s flown passenger load factor rose 2.1 points to 86.6 per cent between July 2011 and July 2012.
The short-haul flown load factor was 85.1 per cent, up 2.4 points on July 2011, with capacity decreasing by 1.9 per cent. The long-haul flown load factor was 89.9 per cent, up 1.5 points on July 2011, with capacity in line with last year.
In June, the airline, which is currently fighting a takeover bid by rival Ryanair, said it carried a total of 918,000 passengers, a 2 per cent rise on June 2011. The majority – 819,000 – were short-haul passengers.
Meanwhile, unions at the airline say Ryanair’s proposed €1.30-a-share bid for the company fundamentally undervalues the airline and claim the credibility of Ryanair’s intentions “are doubtful at best”.