§ July load factor 81%, compared to 78% in July 2014
§ Kerry Dublin route up 24% for July, representing 17th consecutive month of growth
§ Donegal Dublin route up 7% for July, representing 6th consecutive month of growth

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, has recorded an 81% passenger load factor for the month of July, according to figures released today. This is up from 78% for the same period last year.

Overall, Aer Lingus Regional flew over 133,000 passengers in July of this year. It currently operates 640 flights per week across 27 routes from 20 departures points throughout Ireland, the UK and France.

Aer Lingus Regional was awarded the tender to provide air services on the Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes from Kerry to Dublin and Donegal to Dublin last November.

The Kerry to Dublin route experienced its 17th consecutive month of growth, growing passenger numbers on the route by 24% for the month of July, and up 31% in the year to date.

The airline’s Donegal to Dublin route enjoyed its sixth consecutive month of growth since taking over the Donegal PSO in February, with passenger numbers up 7% on July 2014.

This sustained growth on these routes has also contributed to an increase in connecting flights through Dublin’s transatlantic hub in North America.

Commenting on July’s figures, Martin Saxton, Chief Commercial Officer at Stobart Air, said: “We are pleased to witness such a strong July performance for the airline. We continue to outperform last year’s passenger load factors, and we are on course to record a particularly strong summer performance.

“The continued growth of our PSO routes demonstrates their importance to the local economies in Kerry and Donegal, particularly in relation to regional connectivity and tourism.

“In the coming weeks, we are on course to celebrate a number of significant passenger milestones, including flying our one millionth passenger on our Dublin Edinburgh route, and a total of two million passengers across our Scottish bound routes.”