DEMAND for services operated by leisure airline and package holiday firm Jet2.com have shown an 'encouraging' uplift after a slow start to the summer shareholders in parent company the Dart Group have been told.

Group chairman and chief executive Philip Meeson told the annual general meeting: "In the preliminary results statement of 26 June 2014, I stated that in the early summer months we had found demand for leisure travel to the markets we serve less buoyant than we would have hoped and market pricing weak.

"I am now pleased to say, however, that more recently we have seen some uplift in the market which has been encouraging, although it is still too early to judge whether this will have a sustainable effect on ticket yields. In terms of winter 2014/15 leisure travel bookings, early indications are satisfactory."

He said the Fowler Welch distribution and logistics continued to focus on growing its revenue pipeline and delivering operational efficiency improvements.

"Overall, the board remains optimistic in relation to meeting current market expectations for operating profit for the financial year ending 31 March 2015 and will provide a further update in mid-October following the half year end," said Mr Meeson.

The group's leisure airline Jet2.com is based at Leeds Bradford Airport with an air crew training centre in Bradford.