Ryanair Carries 20.1 Million Passengers in September, Up 4%

Ryanair carried 20.1 million passengers during last September, a 4% increase from 19.4 million passengers in the same month last year, according to an official company statement. The carrier maintained a steady load factor of 94%, which is among the highest levels in the European aviation sector.

Total passenger traffic over a rolling 12-month period reached 215.1 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 5%. This growth indicates that the carrier continues to expand its network and fleet despite operational pressures faced during the month.

Ryanair operated more than 111,700 flights in September, but canceled over a thousand flights. The airline attributed these cancellations to the collapse of the UK air traffic control system, strikes in Belgian air traffic control, and eruptions of Mount Etna. This reflects the extent of the impact that air traffic control service disruptions have on schedules even when demand remains steady.

This combination of traffic growth and hundreds of flight cancellations highlights operational vulnerability during peak season, as factors beyond the carrier's control can quickly create a gap between planned and operated numbers. The high load factor remains an indicator of the company's ability to fill its seats even when schedules are disrupted, as a level of 94% means the vast majority of offered seats were sold during the month.

What do these terms mean?

Load factor: The ratio of sold seats to total available seats on flights. 12-month rolling traffic: Total passengers over the last twelve consecutive months. Air Traffic Control (ATC): The entity that organizes aircraft routes and ensures navigation safety in airspace.