Major carriers in Europe lost 20 million passengers last year due to the economic downturn gripping the continent. Where did they go? 13 million of them went to budget carriers. Were you one of them?

With Ryanair leading the way, there was an 8.7 per cent increase in passengers in 2009 according to the European Low Fares Airline Association. If overall passenger numbers are in decline, where did these extra passengers come from? The Association of European Airlines says that its members flew 20 million fewer passengers last year. Low fare airlines now account for over one-third of scheduled airline service in Europe, carrying over 162 million passengers in 2009.

If you fly budget carriers more than in the past, is it due to the cheaper fares or the greater availability of service? What will happen when the economic slump is over?