Passenger numbers soar for Europe's budget airlines, bucking downturn

Budget airlines in Europe gained 13-million more passengers last year, with cheaper prices pulling in customers amid an overall drop in air travel.

The European Low Fares Airline Association, which includes Ryanair and easyJet, said an 8.7 per cent increase in passenger numbers in 2009 allowed their industry expand and hire 3,000 more workers.

Airports said overall passenger numbers dropped five per cent in Europe last year.

Major carriers were hardest hit. The Association of European Airlines said members lost 20-million passengers last year -- down 5.8 per cent to 325.9-million -- as a result of the economic downturn that has cut into business and vacation travel.

The low-fare airlines' group says its members carried 162.5-million passengers last year and their flights now account for over a third of scheduled services within Europe.

Irish-based Ryanair Holdings PLC is the biggest of these airlines, ferrying some 65.3-million people last year. EasyJet was second with 46.1-million passengers.