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Budget airlines have the most popular travel sites
Travel companies account for almost one in four of the top 100 online retailers, according to latest statistics released by internet research company Experian.
Its Hitwise Hot 100 annual survey, which rates websites by how many visitors they attract, showed that the budget airlines had by far the most popular travel-related websites.
EasyJet.com was ranked as the most hit upon travel site, claiming 10th position in the Hitwise league table, closely followed by Ryanair in 12th place. They were both well ahead of rival airlines with British Airways coming only 32nd and Jet2, Flybe, bmibaby and Virgin Atlantic in 62, 71, 72 and 73rd places respectively.
Altogether there were 24 travel companies in the Hot 100. Virgin Trains, Hoseasons and Haven have all dropped off the list this year.
Teletext fell 23 places in the league table, limping in at 98th. Expedia was ranked 16th, eight places ahead of rival lastminute.com. Thomson came in 14th, Thomas Cook 23rd and First Choice 57th.
Although much has been written about the negative impact of the internet on the high street, Hitwise found that an increasing number of the top online retailers had bricks and mortar stores.
Four years ago only 23 of the top 50 e-retailers had high street shops, this year the number has grown to 33.
By Linsey McNeill
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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