The operator experienced a 36% rise in the number of package holidaymakers to 1.28 million in the half year to September 30.

Its overall carryings increased by 12% to 5.07 million over the same period last year.

Revenue was up by 22% to £1.1 billion from £951 million in summer 2015.

In its interim results, parent company Dart Group reported today (November 17) that its low-cost airline Jet2.com had flown 2.51 million flight-

only passengers in the half year to September 30 – slightly down from the 2.65 million in 2015.

Despite the decrease, the growth of its fleet, which now stands at 64 aircraft, saw the group’s leisure travel operating profit rising by 15% to £165.2 million year-on-year.

Seat capacity also increased to 13%.

The results come ahead of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays beginning operations from new bases at Birmingham and Stansted next spring.

“We believe these bases have great potential for our holidays business and will both further strengthen our position in the Midlands and enable us to serve the populations of north and east London and the east of England,” the group said.

Dart Group’s pre-tax profit for the six months was up by 12% to £163.7 million.

Philip Meeson, chairman of the travel and logistics group, said: “Whilst we recognise the likely upward pressures on market pricing following the weakening of sterling post-Brexit; for the long term, we have confidence in the resilience of our leisure travel business and are encouraged by the increasing proportion of customers taking our great value, real package holidays.

“With winter 2016/17 leisure travel bookings continuing to perform in line with expectations, the board is currently optimistic that market expectations for the full year will be slightly exceeded.”