Airline, package holidays and distribution company Dart Group expects profits for the year ended March 31 to be ahead of expectations due to lower-than-anticipated winter losses and is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the year ahead.

The Yeadon-based group, which runs leisure airline Jet2.com; Jet2holidays and logistics firm Fowler Welch, said in a trading update overall forward booking levels for Jet2.com remained in line with its 13 per cent increase in capacity for summer 2013. The airline business continued to be supported by expansion of the package holidays business.

Trading volumes were developing satisfactorily at Fowler Welch, with the business well placed for profitable growth.

Dart stated: “The group continues to develop and build its businesses and we are cautiously optimistic about our ability to increase profits in the current financial year, notwithstanding the continuing tough economic environment.”