The airline industry is in its most difficult period ever, it has been claimed.
Management, engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald said the industry is getting smaller thanks to the continued rise in fuel prices affecting travel.
Director of aviation strategy Laurence Price said that there are 60 million fewer seats this winter, with airlines such as easyJet stopping flights to more minor destinations such as Dortmund in Germany.
He also said that American operators have grounded a number of flights as high fuel prices bit.
"This is one of the most difficult periods the industry has ever faced," he stated.
According to the Aviation Trends report by the Civil Aviation Authority, the number of domestic passengers in London and regional airports has fallen by two per cent in the year to 2008's first quarter.
In North America and the rest of the world, they have risen by four per cent.
Flight to and from UK airports in 2008's first quarter were down 5,500, or one per cent on the same period in 2007.
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