Ryanair's Traffic Continues T

RNS Number : 7203C

Ryanair Holdings PLC

04 September 2008

 



RYANAIR'S TRAFFIC GROWTH CONTINUES 

19% INCREASE IN AUGUST PASSENGER NUMBERS 

LOWEST FARES AIRTRAVEL GROWING RAPIDLY

Ryanair, Europe's largest low fare airlines today (Thursday, 4th September 2008) announced 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 55million 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 are 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 55million passengers in the last 12months, proving that passengers are increasingly attracted to Ryanair's guaranteed lowest fares and our promise of no fuel surcharges ever'.

The following are Ryanair's passenger and load factor statistics for August 2008. 

	Aug 07	Aug 08	Increase	12 mth to 31 Aug 08
Passengers (m) 1	4.84m	5.78m	19%	55.12m
Load Factor 2	91%	90%	-1%	81%

• Represents the number of booked seats flown by Ryanair. 

• Represents the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of seats available for passengers. 

Ends.                                             Thursday, 4th September 2008

For further information:

Stephen McNamara                     Pauline McAlester

Ryanair                                         Murray Consultants

Tel: [phone]                 Tel: [phone]

 

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