Spanish low cost carrier Vueling said today (July 19) passenger numbers had leaped by 81% since its merger last year with rival carrier clickair.
The Barcelona-based airline said it carried more than 10m passengers in the last 12 months.
Of these 30% were travelling to Spain for either business or leisure and one in every four passengers arriving at Barcelona Airport were carried by Vueling.
It said overseas travellers were particularly high on routes from Paris and Brussels and on the Barcelona-Moscow service.
Alex Cruz, Vueling's ceo, said: "The merger between Vueling and clickair was accomplished at a very complex time - in the teeth of an unprecedented economic slowdown.
"We are pleased to report that the marriage has been successful and has generated business synergies - resulting in a solid, healthy and profitable company in a highly competitive environment.
"One of the catalysts to the success of this merger process has been and continues to be our obsession with cost savings.
"In 2009, €11.4m was saved in cost synergies. During 2010 this will increase to a further €15.5m."
www.vueling.com