03/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Growth and low cost jobs. Low-cost airlines' robust health was again confirmed in 2013. Last year, low-cost airlines flew more passengers than ever, with a 6.17% increase compared to 2012, according to the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA). Repercussions on job creation have increased accordingly, with a 7.1% increase that has helped bring the total number of employees working in the sector to 31,500. Bolstered by these encouraging figures in terms of growth and jobs, the secretary general of the association, John Hanlon, appealed for fair European policies in this field and was particularly critical of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applied to intra-EU flights that “would discriminate against low fares airlines, for whom the majority of flights are within Europe”. (MD)