The alliance is expected to attract seven million passengers, or a 20-per-cent increase from last year.

We now have nearly 50 million users in Europe, a 25 per cent increase in just 12 months.

And the proportion will increase to 10 per cent by 2020.

Tourist arrivals could reach 13 million in 2006 at best, or approximately a 12.0 per cent increase from last year.

Such an increase would translate into almost one million additional sales, equivalent to a 22 per cent increase in Apple's 2005 Mac shipments.

We forecast an increase of approximately 15 per cent in operating profit after tax for the half year ending 31 December 2005, over the amount reported for the prior corresponding period,