Aer Lingus has announced second quarter operating profits of €34.5m for the three month period to the end of June, down from €38.7m in the same period last year.

In the first six months of 2015 the airline recorded operating losses of just under €14m compared to just under €10m in losses in last year’s first half.

The airline’s long-haul business to North America, boosted by new routes to Toronto and San Francisco, continues to drive the bulk of its revenue growth and profitability.

Long-haul passenger numbers rose by 10 percent in the quarter, with revenues per passenger kilometre rising by a similar amount on these routes.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Stephen Kavanagh, spoke with Vincent Wall - he argues that the airline is more focused on profit margins than passenger numbers.

Aer Lingus’s short-haul routes, both those run directly by the airline and under franchise by Stobart Air, remain under pressure. 

Directly-carried passenger numbers fell slightly during the period while revenues during the quarter – covering early summer months, was more than 3 percent lower.