2nd Jul 2021 08:32
(Alliance News) - Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Friday both reported sharp jumps in passenger numbers in June, as vaccine programmes and easing restrictions increase confidence among travellers at the start of the crucial summer season.
Dublin-based Ryanair carried 5.3 million passengers in June, up from 400,000 in the same month last year. It was a sharp increase from May, which saw 1.8 million passengers, and April, with 1.0 million.
It means Ryanair carried 8.1 million passengers in the first quarter of its financial year ending March 2022, up from 510,000 in the same period last year.
Wizz Air also reported a jump in passengers, although not as dramatic as for Ryanair. A total of 1.6 million booked passengers flew with Wizz Air in June, up from 502,253 in June 2020 and 832,538 in May 2021.
But load factors for both airlines remained stubbornly low. Ryanair filled 72% of seats on its flights in June, down from 79% in May. Load factors have been around the 70% to 80% range throughout the pandemic, despite massive cuts to capacity, down from 97% in previous peak seasons.
Wizz Air filled 64% of its seats in June, down from 66% the previous month.
Last month, Ryanair added seats to destinations such as Malta and the Balearic Islands following their addition to the UK's travel green list, but urged the government to relax travel rules further. It criticised the current traffic light system for UK travellers as being "very confusing" for airlines and customers.
Both airlines also operate routes within the EU, where passengers face fewer restrictions.
Wizz Air said it opened its sixth Italian base, in Naples, last month.
Ryanair shares were up 1.1% to EUR16.38 in London on Friday morning. Shares in Wizz Air were up 0.9% to 4,770.00 in London.
By Ivan Edwards; [email protected]
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