Leisure airline and package holidays group Dart is braced for second-half losses after boosting profits and turnover by more than 30 per cent in the half-year to September 30, when business was boosted by the UK’s washout summer.

Philip Meeson, chairman of the Yeadon-based owner of Jet2.com airline and Jet2holidays, said the business was becoming increasingly seasonal and after a strong summer, higher winter losses were expected.

Overall, however, Dart, which also includes distribution and logistics operator Fowler & Welch, expects its results to exceed current market expectations for the full-year ending March 31, 2013.

Dart’s pre-tax profits rose by 37 per cent from to £57 million from £41.6 million, compared with the previous half- year, while turnover grew by 31 per cent from £445.7 million to £584.5 million.

Mr Meeson said much of the profit was generated by the continued growth of the Jetholidays operation, which increased sales to 312,000 in the six months compared with 158,000 a year earlier. Sales climbed by 117 per cent from £83.3 million to £180.6 million.

“This very considerable growth reflects our focused development of package holiday products, improvements to the Jet2holidays.com booking process and our ability to offer package holidays to our existing airline destinations,” he said.

“Our great value all inclusive holidays are ideally suited to the current difficult economic environment. We offer holiday packages encompassing flights, transfers and accommodation ranging from budget self catering to five star luxury hotels, with all inclusive and half board packages being particularly popular,” said Mr Meeson.

Average holiday prices increased by ten per cent, reflecting a shift towards all inclusive and higher grade hotels and higher in-flight prices.

Jet2.com flew 3.6 million scheduled passengers against 3.2 million in the same period of 2011, an increase of 14 per cent, with the total number of routes rising to 162 from 148 last year. Seat capacity increased by 11 per cent compared to summer 2011 with revenues rising 23 per cent to £398 million.

Mr Meeson said: “The growth of Jet2holidays accounted for over two- thirds of the increase in Jet2.com passenger volumes and its growth was the principal driver of the airline’s increased load factors and yields.

“Jet2.com’s profit margins were slightly ahead of the previous half year despite operating cost increases of 20 per cent, which were driven by higher fuel, maintenance and sub-charter costs, in addition to our increased flying.”

Fowler Welch drove up revenues by eight per cent and increased margins through revenue growth.