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.

It still plans to boost the number of seats flown by 7.5% a year, compared with an average 15% between 2005 and 2008.

Ryanair’s 33rd EU base was officially opened yesterday in Porto by Portugal’s Prime Minister, José Sócrates.

The airline used the opportunity to step up its campaign for a yes vote in the upcoming Lisbon referendum.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “Ireland’s growth and prosperity is substantially due to our membership of the European Union and the euro.

“A return to economic growth and rising employment will only be possible in Ireland if we vote ‘yes’ to remain at the heart of Europe.”

Also yesterday Ireland West Airport Knock said August was the busiest month at the airport in three years as more than 81,000 passengers passed through the airport.

Since 2007 passenger numbers through the airport have grown by 13%.

Airport managing director Joe Gilmore said: “It was refreshing to see our new terminal full of thousands of people choosing Ireland West Airport Knock as their preferred airport of choice to travel through.”