Ryanair said today passenger numbers rose 9.8 per cent in November but the number of seats filled on planes dipped from a year earlier.
The airline said it carried 2.197 million passengers in the month, compared with 2.001 million a year ago.
The carrier said in a statement its passenger load factor - a measure of how many seats it has filled on its planes - fell to 82 per cent from 83 per cent a year ago.
It was the first time Ryanair reported a weaker monthly load factor since February this year. The airline's load factors peaked in July and August during the summer holidays.
The carrier has warned of a bloodbath this winter as it drives down fares while rivals impose fuel surcharges to offset high oil prices.
Ryanair shares were 4.7 per cent higher at €5.55. The stock was higher before the passenger numbers were released after the price of oil fell to its lowest level in two-and-a-half months.