Eurostar for the first half of 2011 reported a 4 percent rise in sales revenue to £421 million and a 3 percent increase in passenger numbers to 4.7 million

. The Channel Tunnel passenger rail operator said the underlying increase in revenue was 12 percent, but the spike in sales in April 2010 during the ash cloud crisis affected year-over-year comparisons. Business Premier class sales increased 9 percent in the first quarter, fell during April and resumed growth in May and June. Eurostar attributed much of the Business Premier gains to financial services sector clients.