Ryanair reports 40% jump in passenger numbers

Ryanair today reported a 40% increase in passenger numbers last month.

The no-frills airline carried 886,320 people in February, almost 250,500 more than in the same month last year.

Ryanair, one of the few airlines in the world to prosper since the September 11 terrorist attacks, also reported carrying 10.8 million passengers in the year to February.

Throughout last month, 91% of seats were sold on the company’s web site, and over the year the figure was 84%.

Ryanair sales and marketing manager Tim Jeans said: ‘‘The appetite for our low fares is growing at a huge pace. These figures confirm that the future of European air travel lies with low fares airlines like Ryanair.

‘‘Everywhere we compete head-to-head with the high fare flag carriers, passengers vote with their wallets and fly Ryanair.

‘‘We are beyond September 11 now, and the trend towards the low fare airlines is unstoppable.’’