A doubling in package holiday customers at Jet2holidays also boosted passenger numbers at Yeadon-based sister airline Jet2, contributing to a significant rise in pre-tax profits for parent Dart Group in the half-year to September 30.

The group increased pre-tax profits by 37 per cent to £78.1 million, against £57m a year earlier. Revenues grew by 35 per cent to £787.1m from £584.5m in the first half of 2012.

Jet2holidays grew customer numbers by 103 per cent to 634,866 during the period while revenue more than doubled to £380.1m from £180.6m a year earlier. Growth was boosted by an expanding range of deals geared to the difficult economic environment and an integrated approach between the holidays and airline operations.

Jet2 saw a 13 per cent increase in passenger numbers to 4.1 million while revenues increased by 19.4 per cent to £463.2m against £388m.

Dart group chairman Philip Meeson said: “Whilst the group’s trading performance during the first six months of the year has been satisfactory, our leisure travel operations are becoming increasingly seasonal as we continue to grow the business and winter losses are expected to increase materially.”