STAFF at Flybe are celebrating after official figures showed it is now the UK’s biggest domestic airline.

The company, which has its headquarters at Exeter International Airport, has overtaken easyJet for the first time in a league table of the number of passengers carried by individual airlines on routes within the UK.

Statistics just released by the Civil Aviation Authority  revealed that in May Flybe carried 26 per cent of all UK domestic passengers, ahead of second placed easyJet, which flew 23 per cent.

Six years ago Flybe’s share of the market was just 9.6 per cent.

Flybe’s total of 451,413 passengers for the month — not including its Scottish franchise partner Loganair —  was ahead of all its competitors including easyJet, British Airways, BMI and Ryanair.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s chief commercial officer, said: “Just six years ago, Flybe was a distant fifth in the UK domestic market. It’s a mark of how far we’ve come that, in less than a decade, we’re now number one — a phenomenal achievement.

“We now serve 35 airports in the UK, affirming our commitment to keeping Britain on the move through these challenging economic times.

“The numbers not only reflect the strength and success of our business model, but also the fact that, in bucking the spiralling downturn of aviation trends, we have continued to add routes. Those out of London Gatwick in recent months such as Newquay have all exceeded expectations.”

In February 2007, just before Flybe completed its takeover of BA Connect, it carried 243,636 domestic passengers — well  behind easyJet’s total of 481,610.

The takeover pushed Flybe up to second in the table, but still some way behind easyJet. By May last year, Flybe’s total had risen to 487,411 — just behind easyJet’s 490,090.

With Flybe now overtaking easyJet, the latest figures indicate it has seen a less severe fall in passenger numbers. Domestic flights account for around 70 per cent of all Flybe customers.

The CAA’s figures also showed that Flybe carried more domestic passengers to and from London Gatwick than any other airline in April and May. Mr Rutter added: “I would like to thank all our loyal passengers in helping us achieve this magnificent achievement.”