Aer Lingus says planes less full

Aer Lingus has reported that while its passenger numbers increased last month, on a year-on-year basis, its planes were less full.

According to the airline’s latest monthly customer figures, issued yesterday, it carried 731,000 passengers in March — 8% more than in the same month last year. However, the load factor for the month — basically the measure of how many seats were actually filled rather than sold — came in at 75.5%, down by 2.3% year-on-year.

“The weakness in load factor on both short haul and long haul is being attributed to intensifying levels of competition, but is expected to be offset by an uplift in average fares in line with a benign yield environment,” said John Sheehan, analyst with NCB Stockbrokers in response.