1m passengers and counting

British Airways franchise carrier GB Airways is celebrating another milestone after carrying over one million passengers for the first time in a summer season.

The launch of four new routes last winter and the introduction of larger aircraft with a greater capacity have helped the airline transport a total of nearly 1.1 million passengers between April and October this year.

GB managing director John Patterson said: "Passengers on our Spanish network grew by 40 per cent compared to last year and accounted for half of our passengers.

"To reach this milestone in one season is a testament to our continued expansion into Europe and North Africa and our bid to constantly strive to improve the service we offer."

Currently, GB Airways, which became a British Airways franchise in 1995, operates from Gatwick London and Heathrow to 21 destinations in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France, Gibraltar, Malta and Tunisia.

Last November, the airline launched four new routes to the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, the Moroccan beach resort of Agadir and the city of Montpellier in southern France.

A fleet replacement programme is currently under way, replacing Boeing 737 aircraft with a brand new fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.

It is hoped that the airline can continue its successful run, by carrying a record number of passengers this winter, aided by the introduction of three new routes from London Gatwick to Spain.

On November 3 the carrier launched twice-weekly scheduled services to Almeria. Flights to Girona, Costa Brava and Mahon, Menorca will be launched in March, bringing to 14 the number of Spanish cities served by GB Airways and British Airways from London Gatwick.

For reservations and further information on British Airways services operated, visit the BA Website, www.ba.com or contact your travel agent.