 The advent in the mid @-@ 1990s of ’ no @-@ frills ’ carriers , such as easyJet , has had a significant impact on air travel in the UK . In 2005 these airlines carried 77 @.@ 5 million passengers , up from just 4 @.@ 3 million in 1996 . They are responsible for the growth of regional airports , operating from 35 airports in 2006 compared to 10 in 1996 , and increasing the choice of international destinations , serving 150 in 2006 , compared to 12 a decade earlier . The annual rate of growth in the overall demand for air travel has remained stable since 1975 , averaging 5 @.@ 8 per cent annually . Recent growth is being serviced by the no @-@ frills airlines at the expense of traditional carriers which , since 2000 , have experienced flat or declining traffic levels . In response , traditional carriers have lowered costs to compete more effectively on price , leading to lower prices on the short haul routes serviced by this sector , especially in business fares . They have also limited or reduced capacity and in some cases launched no @-@ frills subsidiaries of their own . 
