Ryanair announces 45% passenger growth

Low fares airline Ryanair has announced a 45% growth in passengers numbers in February 2004 compared to the same period last year.

Ryanair said it had 1.877m passengers last month compared to 1.2m during February 2003.

Year on year figures came in at 22.41m passengers to the end of February.

The percentage of seats filled per flight - the load factor - fell to 77% from 81% on the year but rose from the 71% recorded in January.

Internet sales accounted for 97% of all sales.

Ryanair is in the process of appealing a European Court's decision over its Charleroi Brussels service.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said last week that the no frills airline would discontinue its London-Charleroi route shortly.