Low-cost Airlines Carry 2.7 Million Passengers To Spain In August

Low-cost airlines were responsible for up to 2.7 million passengers to Spain throughout August, which meant an increase of 42.9% from the year before and accounting for a total of 40.2% of air passengers, according to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

The load factor for airline providing cheap flights amounted to 86.2% compared to the 82.9 % from traditional airlines. Easyjet, Ryanair and Air Berlin carried over half the amount of passengers with 51%. Ireland-based Ryanair, Europe's largest budget carrier, had previously said it would set up two more bases in Spain by 2010, adding Valencia and Alicante to existing hubs in Madrid and Gerona.

Whilst business has grown for airlines offering cheap flights to Spain, Iberia, the national carrier has seen its market share in the country drop to 22 per cent last year from 26 per cent in 2003.