Hapag-Lloyd Express (HLX), the low-cost carrier in the TUI Group, can look back on an extremely successful year 2006. The airline, which has merged with its sister company Hapagfly and now operates under the new airline brand TUIfly, increased its passenger figures by 22 percent, carrying a total of 4.4 million passengers on its fleet of 18 aircraft in 2006. The total passenger figure for both TUI airlines in 2006 reached the figure of 11.1 million.
Hapagfly, which reduced its fleet by two aircraft last year and therefore offered fewer seats in the market, accounted for 6.7 million of the total figure. With seat load factors of 88 percent (Hapagfly) and 80 percent (HLX), both companies again booked record figures.
“The principal growth sectors last year were once again our connections to city and European destinations, and that is also where we expect to see the greatest growth potential again this year under the TUIfly.com brand,” commented Roland Keppler, responsible for sales and marketing at TUIfly, and simultaneously Chairman of the HLX Executive Board. This year, the TUIfly.com fleet of 56 aircraft (summer 2007) is forecast to carry 13.5 million passengers (22 per cent up on 2006). The airline currently flies to 75 destinations in 17 countries, most of which are available from just € 19.99 per person and flight.