- Ryanair carried 19.3 million passengers last month, compared to 17.4 million in June 2023
- This means that the Irish airline has transported 188.8 million people in the last 12 months.
Low-cost airline Ryanair has recorded its busiest June on record, carrying more than 19 million people for the first time.
The Irish airline carried 19.3 million passengers across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East in June 2024, compared to 17.4 million in June 2023.
This means that the group has transported 188.8 million people in the last 12 months, an increase of 9 percent compared to the 173.4 million who traveled with the company the previous year.
Flying higher: Ryanair carried 19.3 million passengers across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East in June 2024, up from 17.4 million in June 2023
This came despite the Dublin-based carrier suffering excessive delays and cancelling multiple trips last week due to “staff shortages” affecting air traffic control centres across Europe.
On Thursday, Ryanair saw 30 percent of its 3,500 flights delayed and 16 aircraft grounded, meaning planes missed curfew landing times at the airport.
A quarter of the departures in its first wave were delayed the following day, partly blamed on an “equipment failure” at the Maastricht ATC centre.
Ryanair chief operating officer Neal McMahon called the delays and cancellations “unacceptable” and urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to “take action to urgently reform Europe’s chaotic air traffic control services.”
He also urged Raul Medina, director general of Eurocontrol, to explain the recent problems and work to “offer an efficient and effective ATC service to European citizens.”
Wizz Air passenger numbers fell in June
Wizz Air also demanded authorities resolve ATC issues after the Hungarian carrier said it had experienced an additional 30,000 minutes of delay at airport slots over the previous four weeks compared to the same period last year.
Wizz Air was prepared to ensure smooth summer operations for its passengers, however, the air traffic control system appears to be experiencing major problems this summer.
“As an industry, we are compelled to raise these issues with the relevant air traffic management authorities, including Eurocontrol, to ensure appropriate mitigation actions are implemented to minimise disruption.”
On Tuesday, Wizz Air revealed that its passenger volume fell slightly in June, dropping 0.2 percent year-on-year to 5.3 million, while its load factor (percentage of seats occupied) decreased 0.5 percentage points to 91.7 percent.
But in a 12-month period, Wizz Air said its number of customers rose 14 percent to 62.1 million.
Wizz Air shares Ryanair shares fell 1.6 percent to 21.16 pounds and Ryanair shares were down 1.05 percent at 16.05 euros on Tuesday morning.
