3rd Mar 2020 09:15
(Alliance News) - European airlines Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC both on Tuesday reported solid growth in monthly passenger numbers.
Irish budget carrier Ryanair's passenger numbers rose 9% year-on-year in February, reaching 10.5 million. The Ryanair airline's numbers were up 8% to 10.0 million, with its Lauda division in Austria up 67% to 500,000 passengers.
Ryanair's group load factor was 96%, with a 96% factor for Ryanair and 94% for Lauda.
On a rolling annual basis, Ryanair's group passenger numbers climbed 8% to 153.8 million with a 96% load factor.
Geneva-based Wizz posted a 26% rise yearly in passenger numbers to 2.4 million. The load factor was 93.8%, down from 94.2%, with capacity up 26%.
On a rolling 12-month basis, the Central Europe-focused carrier's passenger numbers were 20% higher at 41.0 million. The load factor rose to 93.7% from 92.6%, with capacity up 18%.
Ryanair was 2.3% higher in early trade in London on Tuesday at EUR11.79. Wizz was up 2.7% at 3,412.00 pence. However, both stocks have lost around a quarter of their value since the middle of February.
Travel stocks have come under selling pressure amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has now spread to dozens of countries having originated in China. The virus's spread has hit travel demand, with numerous airlines cancelling flights.
Ryanair on Monday said it would be reducing its short-haul programme, mainly to and from Italy, between March 17 and April 8 amid a steep drop in bookings. Italy has become a European hotspot for the outbreak.
Similarly, International Consolidated Airlines Group SA's British Airways cancelled over 400 flights to several short-haul destinations in Europe on Monday.
Wizz, which mainly operates in central and eastern Europe, on Monday said it would be launching its first operations in the Middle East in the autumn, operating from Abu Dhabi.
By George Collard; [email protected]
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