Budget airlines Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Thursday both said passenger traffic increased in October compared to a year before, but Ryanair said it saw hundreds of flight cancellations in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Dublin-based Ryanair said that it carried 17.1 million passengers, up 8.9% from 15.7 million a year prior. The load factor was 93% compared to 94% in October 2022.

On a rolling 12-month basis to October, Ryanair said it carried 180.2 million passengers, up 14% from 157.4 million a year before. The load factor improved to 94% from 91%.

The Irish airline noted that 870 flights were cancelled in October due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. A total of 96,700 flights were operated during the month, it said.

Meanwhile, Budapest-based Wizz Air said it carried 5.4 million passengers in October, up 19% from 4.5 million in the corresponding month a year ago, at a load factor of 93%, which is an improvement from 89% in October 2022.

On a rolling 12-month basis, Wizz Air carried 58.4 million passengers, reflecting a 37% rise from 42.6 million the year before, at a load factor of 91%, up from 86%.

Wizz Air’s carbon dioxide emissions in October grew 19% to 487,676 tonnes from 410,023 tonnes a year ago.

Shares in Ryanair were down 2.2% at €15.02 each in Dublin on Thursday morning, while Wizz Air shares were up 5.6% at 1,643.00 pence each in London.

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