Aer Lingus saw operating profits rise by 19.4% to 94.6 million euros in the three months to September.
Passenger numbers rose by 2.1%, giving year-to-date growth of 0.2% while retail revenue per passenger was up by 6.1% in the three-month period.
The Irish airline said it expects to report a full year operating profit, before exceptional items, “at the upper end of the range of current market expectations”.
CEO Christoph Mueller said: “This result is ahead of Q3 2010 and follows on from a solid Q2 2011 performance. Aer Lingus has performed positively over the key summer months of 2011.
“These results were achieved against the backdrop of difficult trading conditions. Demand in our primary markets continues to be impacted by consumer concerns about the future and the ongoing eurozone debt crisis.
“We are also affected by high airport charges and are now exposed to higher fuel prices than earlier this year. Despite these challenges, we are satisfied with Aer Lingus’ operating profit for the first nine months of 2011.”