FLYBE, Europe's largest regional airline and scheduled low cost carrier from George Best Belfast City Airport, has launched its 2008/9 winter schedule and celebrated its position as the number one UK regional airline, domestically out-flying its closest regional rival by nearly two to one.

The airline carried 1.81 million passengers from December 07 to May 07 inclusive to 983,553 for easyJet

The launch of Flybe's winter schedule also sees the launch of 'Flybe Connections', a convenient new 'one-stop' thru-booking service which opens up a wide selection of affordable routes for Flybe passengers.

It means that customers will now be able to build an itinerary of Flybe routes. For example, passengers wanting to travel between Belfast and Stornaway in the Western Isles, would previously have had to make two bookings; now they can book with just one convenient transaction.

Flybe's new Winter 2008/9 schedule, effective from October 26, sees the carrier continuing to offer passengers an extensive and comprehensive range of popular winter services to destinations across the UK and Europe with 13 direct routes from George Best Belfast City airport. All are available for booking now and throughout the winter.

Specifically, Flybe's winter schedule from Belfast sees Flybe offering its Northern Ireland passengers 409 departures a week from Belfast City.

The winter timetable also maintains Belfast's ever popular business and leisure destinations including London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham reinforcing Flybe's commitment to bringing convenient, low cost travel to the region and reaffirming its position as Europe's largest and most successful regional airline.

Flybe's winter schedule from Belfast includes: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton

The full 2008/9 winter schedule is testament to Flybe's ambitious growth plans, expanding the number of routes offered this season with additional connections to a wide range of new destinations through Scottish airline, Loganair, Flybe's franchise partner. Both Flybe and Loganair's customers can now benefit from an expanded, efficient and friendly service that connects people across the UK and Europe with convenient and affordable travel.

And, at a time when airlines are facing an inexorable hike in the price of fuel, Flybe is in a more fortunate position than many of our competitors due to having one of the most fuel efficient aircraft fleet in the industry.

Mike Rutter, Flybe's Chief Commercial Officer, comments: "The launch of our winter schedule from Belfast sees us continuing to deliver on our promise to bring great value fares and travel choice to Northern Ireland air passengers.

"Flybe is now the biggest domestic airline outside of London by a country mile and in spite of the current economic climate we've had a busy and successful first half of 2008. With the launch of 'Flybe Connections', we're making it even easier for Northern Ireland passengers to get their hands on great value through-flights at the click of a mouse."

"Furthermore, our pioneering franchise agreement with Loganair has enabled us to substantially increase our route offering over the winter months. We're excited to now be in the position to offer an intra-regional travel network throughout Scotland second to none and provide Loganair passengers with easily accessible and low-cost connections to destinations across the UK and regional Europe."