BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan. 8, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- In 2003 Virgin Express (Euronext Brussels: VIRE) (OTCBB:VIRGY) carried more than 2.5 million passengers on its scheduled services, i.e. an increase of 5.2% compared with the 2.38 million passengers in 2002. The load factor rose slightly from 80.7% in 2002 to 81.0% in 2003. These figures only include the passengers carried on scheduled flights operated by the Belgian low fare carrier. They do not include charter passengers nor the passengers who booked with Virgin Express and were carried by one of the company's code share partners. If one also takes into account those passengers who chose Virgin Express but who travelled on one of the codeshare partner's aircraft the number remains constant at 2.71 million passengers.
The slight increase in the load factor on the scheduled flights over the year means that every Virgin Express flight carried on average 121 passengers. However, maintaining this load factor has had a detrimental impact on the yield in the face of extreme competition from other airlines, some of them gaining benefit from illegal support and subsidies.
Outstanding On-time Performance Results
Virgin Express reinforced its reputation as being Europe's most reliable airline by setting a remarkable year-round punctuality result. More than 92.0% of all Virgin Express flights departed on-time and 93.4% flights arrived on time. The average departure of all flights taken over the year was 2 minutes and 52 seconds after the scheduled departure time and arrived 2 minutes and 14 seconds ahead of schedule.
Websales
In 2003, total internet bookings were up 79.3% compared to 2002 and websales turnover reached EUR 77.7 million. Virgin Express remains largely the most important internet retailer in the Benelux.
2002 2003
Internet bookings 649,400 1,164,178
Internet revenue (EUR millions) 42.9 77.7
% of bookings made through the internet 29.40% 46.90%
Internet bookings (1998-2003)
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 24 178 110 222 292 310 341 817 649 400 1 164 178