LONDON (AP) — Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., the privately owned British airline controlled by billionaire Richard Branson, said yesterday that a record number of business travellers sent profits sky-rocketing more than sevenfold.

The company said that net profit for the year ending February 29 was £47.7 million ($87.7 million), up from £6.6 million the previous year.

Sales rose 9.1 percent to £2.3 billion ($4.2 billion).

Virgin said a 22 percent increase in first and business class passengers helped increase earnings.

The carrier said it continued to benefit from higher numbers of premium fliers into the first quarter of this year as passengers shunned British Airways to avoid problems at Heathrow's new Terminal 5, which BA uses. The terminal had a disastrous opening in March, with flights canceled, luggage lost and enormous lines.

The company also said that its launch of a number of new routes — to destinations including Nairobi, Kenya and Mauritius — helped increase the total number of passengers it carried over the year to 5.7 million, a 7.6-percent rise.

"Against the backdrop of high oil prices and weakening consumer demand, we are well-placed to succeed over the coming months," said chief executive Steve Ridgway.

However, British Airways PLC disagreed with Virgin's claim that problems at Terminal 5 had driven customers to Branson's airline, citing a rise in passengers using the hub from 40,000 per day in April to 65,000 per day currently.

"We do not recognise Virgin's claims to be taking business from us on the grounds that passengers do not like Terminal 5," said BA spokesman Paul Marston.

"Passengers are extremely happy with Terminal 5 ... It is not surprising if other airlines are envious," he added.