Much improved financial results were achieved in the first six months of the year by British Regional Air Lines Group, which holds the British Airways franchise for routes between regional UK airports and provides extensive services to Irish airports.

First-half pre-tax profits amounted to £366,000 sterling before exceptional items and currency earned on turnover of £95 million compared with losses of £487,000 suffered on £90 million turnover in the first half of last year.

Main factors behind the profit improvement were withdrawal from unprofitable routes, increased yield as measured by revenue per seat and growth of income on aircraft leased to British Airways.