Ryanair beats BA in May passenger figures

Ryanair carried 2.14 million passengers during May in the UK and Europe compared to British airlines' 2.05 million, the low fares carrier said today.

Head of Communications, Paul Fitzsimmons said: "BA passenger figures released for the month of May, confirmed UK/Europe passenger growth of 0.3% - compared to Ryanair's growth of 19% for the same period.

"Ryanair also has substantially better load factors compared to BA, with Ryanair filling 81% of available seats, while BA flew almost one-third empty," Fitzsimmons said.

Last week Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that the low fares business faces a "bloodbath" over the coming years.