Ryanair reports positive growth

Ryanair announced today that its passenger numbers continue to grow as Ryanair carried almost 5.8 million passengers in August, a 19% (940,000 passenger) increase when compared to August 2007. Ryanair has carried over 55 million passengers in the year to August 2008.

Ryanair has now increased passenger numbers every month this year while continuing to maintain a load factor of 81%. Ryanair’s load factor remained exceptionally strong in August with 90% of available seats being snapped up by deal-hungry passengers. The load factor for August ’08 was slightly down on August ’07 due to an increase in capacity over the last 12 months.

Ryanair continues to grow passenger numbers despite a Europe-wide economic slowdown which has seen high-fare, fuel-surcharging airlines lose price-sensitive passengers to Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and no fuel surcharge. Ryanair is confident that passenger numbers will continue to remain strong as competitors continue to raise their high fares and fuel surcharges and haemorrhage more passengers to Ryanair.

Stephen McNamara, Head of Communications, said: “Ryanair’s latest passenger figures show that we continue to grow passenger numbers every month this year.

"Our rapidly-growing passenger numbers come at a time when many airlines, which are facing huge losses, are raising fares and fuel surcharges in an attempt to turn these losses around. However, the reality is that this has driven their passengers to Ryanair. Now even more passengers realise that low-fare, fuel surcharge-free travel is still possible – but only with Ryanair. We have carried over 55 million passengers in the last 12 months, proving that passengers are increasingly attracted to Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and our promise of no fuel surcharges ever."