The number of flyers travelling with German airline Lufthansa saw a 1.6 per cent increase last year, according to new figures.

Statistics released by the carrier show that almost 3.7 million Britons flew with the carrier in 2007, up by 60,000 compared with 2006.

Marianne Sammann of Lufthansa highlighted the airline's recently announced routes from Bristol, Birmingham and Dublin to destinations in Europe and said the carrier's growth in 2007 was "exceptional".

"It proves that huge numbers of travellers still want the added value they receive from a full-service airline," she remarked, adding that flyers favour the inclusion of food, drink and luggage in the overall ticket cost.

Last month, Lufthansa was ranked first in eight business class travel categories as part of a survey conducted by Business Traveller Deutschland magazine.

These included categories covering domestic German, European, American and Middle Eastern routes, among others.

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