Flyglobespan, which flies from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports, put flights to European destinations on sale on Wednesday for bookings until October next year at this year's low prices.

The company said the uptake has been overwhelming by customers, who have bought the flights in twice the numbers they did in the first two days of sales this time last year for 2008 summer flights. Travel agents are also snapping up the flights to sell on to customers as package bookings with hotels and cruise deals.

Airlines have been struggling across the board as the price of fuel has increased in the past six months, with some announcing that prices would have to rise.

Already 25 airlines have gone bankrupt this year, and the remaining companies need to hold onto business to survive the winter.Low-cost airlines, however, are using aggressive tactics to attract customer numbers, which are flagging as consumers tighten their budgets.

Flyglobespan said its summer flights to destinations such as Palma and Malaga went on sale on Wednesday, and it was amazed at how many people have taken them up already. Chief executive Rick Green said: "Our regular customers know that to get the widest choice of low fares and availability, they need to book early."

ABTA Scotland chairman Roddy MacPhee said travel companies will buy up the flights "immediately". He said:

"Scheduled airlines normally only put their inventory on sale nine months before, so clearly the likes of Globespan would be of interest to cruisers."