Ryanair reveals rise in passenger numbers

Discount airline Ryanair today reported a 4 per cent rise in passenger numbers for May, helping its annual traffic figure hit a fresh high.

The Irish carrier said 8.2 million people flew with it last month, taking its total for the 12-month period to a record 82.3 million.

Ryanair also said it load factor – a measure of how full its planes were – rose to 85 per cent, ahead of its own forecasts.

Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs attributed the growth in traffic to lower fares and customer service improvements such as allocated seating and allowing customers to carry a second small bag on board.