Ryanair flew more than 14.2 million passengers in April, the highest number since September 2019, new figures show.
However, the news failed to stop investors turning negative on airlines as oil prices bounced on the back of EU plans to phase out Russian imports.
Ryanair operated more than 82,600 flights and carried a total of 14.24 million passengers in April. Europe’s largest airline said it sold 91 per cent of the seats on its aircraft last month, breaking the 90 per cent barrier for the first time since Covid-19 grounded travel two years ago.
Before the pandemic, the airline normally sold more than 90 per cent of its available seats, but the figure remained below this benchmark after travel began recovering last year.
September 2019, six months before the pandemic struck, was the last month in which Ryanair flew more than 14 million passengers. The total is also ahead of the 13.5 million that flew with the Irish carrier in April 2019.
Airlines regard 2019 as the last “normal” year for their industry, as lockdowns and travel restrictions dogged travel through most of 2020 and 2021.
Shares
Ryanair's shares had tumbled 3 per cent to €14.23 at 1.45pm on Wednesday. Aer Lingus owner, International Airlines Group (IAG), was down almost 2.3 per cent at the same time. Shares in Easyjet, Ryanair's biggest budget rival, had fallen 3.75 per cent, while Wizz Air was off 4.7 per cent.
Ryanair has hedged 80 per cent of its likely fuel needs for this year. IAG has covered 70 per cent of its requirements.
The Irish airline is due to publish results for its last financial year, which ended on March 31st, later this month. It expects to announce losses of between €350 million and €400 million.
However, group chief executive Michael O’Leary recently predicted Ryanair could fly 165 million passengers and earn more than €1 billion profits in its current financial year.
