Aer Lingus numbers up despite drop in short haul traffic

Passenger numbers at Aer Lingus rose by 2.4 per cent to 1,046,000 in May, according to new data published on Friday.

In the same month a year earlier the airline carried 1,021,000 passengers.

Short haul passenger numbers fell by 3.5 per cent from 824,000 in May 2013 to 795,000. Long haul passenger numbers were up 20.6 per cent to 129,000 in May 2014.

Aer Lingus Regional passenger numbers rose 35.6 per cent to 122,000.

The airline said its load factor - the seats it fills in each flight - was 78.7 per cent, down from 79.8 per cent in May 2013.