INCREASED passenger numbers at Yeadon-based leisure airline Jet2.com have failed to match increased seat capacity, according to its owner.

In a trading update, the Dart Group said while passenger numbers grew by 12 per cent to 4.6 million, this fell short of the 13 per cent increase in seat capacity in the six months to September 30.

Flight-only passenger numbers jumped by eight per cent to just over three million but Jet2.com's average ticket yield fell by 1.6 per cent, particularly on Canary islands and Eastern Mediterranean routes.

The company said its leisure travel business picked up during the late summer, compared with the challenging market conditions earlier in the season.

The Jjet2holidays package holiday business increased customer numbers by 21 per cent from 635.000 to 771,000.

Dart said its operating profit for the six months would be around ten per cent ahead of the same period last year but n warned of increased losses in the second half, due to the continued expansion of its seasonal leisure travel operations.

Bookings for the 2014-15 winter season were in line with expectations and the company said full year operating profits should be ahead of expectations.

Dart expects to issue its interim results on November 20.