Demand for package holidays helped the Dart Group increase group operating profit to £147.1 million from £72.4 million for the six months to September 30, 2015.
Revenue in the company’s leisure travel division grew by 15% to £951.7 million. Operating profit growth was £143.6 million giving it an operating profit margin of 15%.
The company is gearing up for further growth by buying 27 new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to be delivered between September 2016 and April 2018. The list price for the jets is $2.6 billion, although the company said it negotiated a ‘significant discount’ on this price.
Chairman Philip Meeson heralded the improved performance but warned that losses were likely to increase in the second half of the year as the business invested in “additional aircraft, advertising and people in readiness for the summer 2016 season.”
Shares in the company were up 1.32% to just under £4.76 in early trading.
