HOLIDAY giant Airtours has seen sales soar past the £1 billion mark as it continues its expansion across the world.

The group, which employs more than 1,000 at its Helmshore headquarters and offices in Accrington, saw turnover increase by 27 per cent to £1,037 million in the six months to March 31, compared to the same period last year.

Burnley-born chairman David Crossland said the group was looking forward to the rest of the financial year "with confidence".

Airtours owns tour companies across Europe, including Scandanavia, FInland and Poland, and now operates four cruise ships.

The half-year results, which saw the losses traditional for holiday companies at this time of year rise to £23.2 million, come just weeks after Airtours continued its expansion with the £17 million purchase of nearly a third of a major German tour operator.

"Airtours' continued expansion into international markets including Germany, the largest tour operator operating market in the world, further reduces our dependence on any single market," said Mr Crossland.

Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 1.5p a share, up 13 per cent. Shares fell by 25p to 495p in early trading today.

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