4th Feb 2015 07:24
LONDON (Alliance News) - Ryanair Holdings PLC Wednesday reported strong growth in passenger numbers in January, and said its planes were more full than a year earlier, confirming a trend it reported on Monday when it reported its third quarter results.
Europe's largest low-cost carrier said passenger numbers were up by 1.3 million on the year in January to over 5.98 million, while its load factor rose to 83%, from 71% a year earlier. Passenger numbers in the 12 months to the end of January were 87.8 million, up 8% on the previous 12 months.
Ryanair has been citing its recently-launched business traveller offering and a move to improve its all-round customer service for the improvement in load factors, while passenger numbers continue rising as it adds new routes.
On Monday, it raised its full-year guidance for a fourth time in the past six months on the back of falling fuel prices and said it swung to a profit in the third quarter of the financial year compared with a loss a year earlier.
The airline reported a EUR49 million profit for the three months to December 31, its fiscal third quarter, compared with a loss of EUR35 million a year earlier. Revenue rose to EUR1.13 billion, from EUR964 million, as passenger numbers rose to 20.8 million, from 18.3 million.
However, its had urged shareholders and analysts to temper their expectations for its next financial year, fiscal 2016. It said it expects profit growth next year to be modest, and said it expects fares to come under pressure because some rivals who haven't hedged forward fuel needs will benefit from the full impact of the recent oil price declines and will lower fares.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @stevemcgrath1
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