Webjet Ltd has increased the value of all ticket sales by 15 per cent in the six months to December 31, even as bargain-hunting travellers sought cheaper flights and airlines offered sales.

Shares in Webjet gained three per cent to a seven week high after the online travel agent said total transaction values (TTV) came in at $285 million for the second half of calendar 2010, up from $248 million in the prior corresponding period.

Webjet said transaction fees were up by about 25 per cent, with the "unit value" of air fares decreasing relative to the prior year.

This was due to a period of intense bargain-hunting by customers and airline sales initiatives, the company said.

"This means that our transaction volumes have increased at a rate we estimate of more than double the growth rate in the leisure market," Webjet said in a statement on Wednesday.

Webjet shares gained seven cents, or 2.89 per cent, to close at $2.49, the highest since November 15.

Figures from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport showed discount economy class airfares for travel within Australia fell in the 12 months to December 2010.

The domestic air fare index for discount economy air fares was 75.4 index points in December 2010, down from 83 points in December 2009.

Restricted economy fares also fell, from 97.0 index points to 92.8 points.

But the government data showed the price of business class tickets, as well as full fare economy tickets, increased in the 12 months to December 2010.

Source: yahoo7 finance