Aer Lingus has reported increased passenger volumes for the first quarter of the year indicating that it is handling the airline sector slump relatively well.
Last month the company reported an operating profit of €64 million for 2002, compared to a loss of €52 million the year before.
The airline said passenger numbers rose 18 per cent on transatlantic routes and 34 per cent on Europe services in the first three months of 2003 compared with the same period the pervious year.
The company now has cash reserves of €367 million having absorbed the€83 million cost of restructuring.
Aer Lingus said today it is to sell one million seats starting from €19.99 each way to Britain, €39.99 each way to Europe and €149.99 each way to the US in a bid to boost demand further.
Kearney said the offer is the airline's biggest ever seat sale to date.