Aer Lingus’s decision to cut its long-haul network has helped stem the fall in fare revenue, with declines of 9.7 per cent in the three months to September 30. This compared with a decline in revenue in the first half of 12.2 per cent.

The reduction in fleet capacity saw load factors – a measure of the average number of seats sold on each flight – increase 1.3 per cent overall, with short-haul up 1.4 per cent and long-haul 0.6 per cent.