Polish charter carrier Enter Air, used by independent tour operators to fly from Gatwick, marked its 12th anniversary in April with an improved set of financial results.
The airline will deploy a Boeing 737-800 this summer to Preveza, Rhodes, Zadar, Lemnos, Skiathos and Corfu for the likes of Mark Warner and Sunvil Holidays.
Revenue for 2021 rose 138% over the previous year to hit £202 million despite the impact of the pandemic.
Net losses were trimmed to £21.2 million and Enter Air purchased two Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from the lessor last April and simultaneously conducted lease-back transactions.
A fleet of 25 aircraft are due to be operated this summer, with the ability to lease others depending on demand.
The carrier was supported by two Polish government loans during 2021.
Management board member Grzegorz Polaniecki said the carrier was rebuilding its potential following the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added: “Despite the numerous restrictions in force throughout last year, travel limitations and the various waves of Covid-19, which in some of the months in 2021 materially limited peoples’ abilities and desires to travel, our results confirm that we have coped very well, and we continue to consistently strengthen Enter Air’s market position.
“We have now been present in the Polish and European skies for 12 years during which we have carried millions of passengers and have frequently had to operate in conditions in which the key to success had been to adapt rapidly.
“In particular, in the last two years the entire team has had to expend enormous effort to survive.
“We have demonstrated many times that our business model affords us flexibility thanks to which, compared to the rest of the aviation market, we are also capable of operating relatively well in turbulent times.
“We are pleased that foreign clients have behaved in the face of the crisis just as we had anticipated, meaning that they are searching for a less expensive and more reliable service. That is exactly what Enter Air provides.
“During the pandemic we flew two times more than anyone else in Europe whereby the recognition of our Polish brand has grown substantially.”
Polaniecki said: “Even though this challenging time has not come to an end, and the market is facing surprises in the form of more and more tragic events, our group is skilfully defending and developing its position.
“Frequently, a crisis experienced by some, creates an opportunity for others to grow.
“We hope that following the restructuring we underwent in 2021 our group will grow even stronger in comparison with our competitors.”