Ryanair passenger traffic rises 19%

RYANAIR passenger traffic rose 19% to 6.88 million last month, while its load factor, a measure of seats filled stayed at 90%.

This news comes as its competitor EasyJet announces plans to close one English base and slash flights at another to reduce costs and divert capacity to more profitable airports in continental Europe.

EasyJet plans to quit East Midlands airport, near Nottingham and flights at London Luton will be cut by 20% after a breakdown in price talks with the local council, which owns the site and Abertis Infraestructuras of Spain, which runs it.