World Cup hits Eurostar leisure sales
Eurostar saw passenger numbers rise 2% to 5 million in the first half of 2014.
Sales revenues also grew by 0.5% to £456 million.
But, half-year figures for leisure travel were hit by the World Cup, and also by the convergence of the Easter and May holidays in the UK which saw consumers travelling only once instead of twice.
"Whilst a number of factors in the second quarter of the year lead to a dampening in demand, we are now beginning to see a more benign trading environment with encouraging signs of economic stability in France as well as the UK," said chief executive Nicolas Petrovic.
"These more favourable conditions have helped deliver strong growth in business travel across our markets."
The volume of business passengers rose 6% compared to the same period in 2013.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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