Flight numbers back at 9/11 level

Low-cost carriers have fuelled the flight boom

The number of commercial air flights has reached levels prior to the terror attacks of 11 September 2001 for the first time, a UK report says.

This month, more than 2,270,000 flights will operate worldwide - 45,000 more than in April 2001, the travel data company OAG says.

The increase in budget carriers and an expansion of air travel in China are the key factors behind the rise.

Low-cost airlines are offering 19% more flights than a year ago.

"The low-cost phenomenon continues to break all records," said Duncan Alexander, managing director of OAG business development.

There are 20% more seats available on low-cost flights than there were a year ago - with the main increases coming in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Over 10% of the flights made this month worldwide will be operated by budget carriers, some 300,000 in all.

Passenger air travel has been hit by a series of deterrents since the 9/11 attacks, including the war in Iraq, and last year's Sars outbreak, which dampened travel demand in Asia.

The air industry has also been hit by rising fuel prices.