BUDGET airline easyJet is claiming that new figures published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) this week, show that it is the UK s largest airline.In 2009 more than 28.1 million passengers flew with easyJet through UK airports, which the company cla

BUDGET airline easyJet is claiming that new figures published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) this week, show that it is the UK's largest airline.

In 2009 more than 28.1 million passengers flew with easyJet through UK airports, which the company claims is significantly more than any other airline. EasyJet was just ahead of Ryanair (28 million) and British Airways (26.2 million).

EasyJet says its success is based on offering the lowest fares to the most convenient airports. In just 15 years easyJet has grown from a small two-aircraft operation to operating out of 16 airports across the UK from Inverness down to Stansted and Gatwick.

Chief executive Andy Harrison said: "easyJet is now the UK's national airline. Passengers have clearly voted with their feet, boarding easyJet's aircraft more than any other airline."

In addition, easyJet claims it is now the leading airline at many major European airports such as Milan Malpensa, and is the second largest airline in France and Switzerland. In 2010 easyJet will grow by 10 per cent to carry more than 50 million passengers across Europe, and currently offers more than 500 routes across 29 countries with a fleet of nearly 200 aircraft.