Taken from AAP
August 23, 2004 - 1:24PM
While Virgin Blue will increase its fuel surcharge fee from August 26 because of continuing record high oil prices it reports its passenger numbers for July increased by 45.8 per cent over the previous year.
Traffic, as measured by Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) increased 52 per cent while capacity, as measured by Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased 61.3 per cent over the same period.
Revenue load factor decreased by five points to 81.3 per cent, compared to the previous year.
Passenger numbers for the four months to July 2004 increased by 38.3 per cent over the same period last year, Virgin Blue said. RPKs for the four months rose 44.4 per cent while ASKs increased by 59.9 per cent.
Virgin Blue also said it would suspend its Sydney-Canberra service as of Saturday, September 4 redirecting capacity to Tasmania where the demand for its product and service has seen a notable increase.
It had noted stronger loads on its Melbourne-Canberra services that were now up to four daily return flights on peak days and the recently increased three daily Brisbane-Canberra return services.