Budget airline Flybe is looking at further expansion in Europe after enjoying a successful start to the year.

The airline, which is the biggest operator based at Birmingham Airport, revealed profits for the six months to September this year were up by 74.4 per cent to £14.3m, from £8.2m for the same period in 2010.

Comparing the same periods the airline saw a 6.4 increase in revenues from £321m to £341.6m.

Taking into account a new venture with Finnair in the shape of Flybe Finland, total revenues were £350.2m, an increase of 9.1 per cent.

Jim French, Flybe’s chairman and chief executive said: “Despite the domestic air travel market being 10 per cent below pre-volcanic levels, and given the UK represents circa 70 per cent of Flybe’s passenger volumes, these financial results demonstrate the resilience of our business model.

“Alongside good growth in load factors, we continue to benefit from our focus on revenue generation with revenue per seat, ticket yield and ancillary yield all showing increases.

“We have retained our market leading positions and remain the biggest operator at Birmingham Airport.

“In just three months since the acquisition of Finnish Commuter Airlines in joint venture with Finnair, Flybe Finland is now flying 26 routes, ten of which are new. We are looking selectively at further opportunities across Europe.”