Alliance News) - Budget airlines Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Monday both said passenger traffic increased in November compared to a year before, despite flight cancellations to Israel amid the ongoing conflict.

Dublin-based Ryanair said that it carried 11.7 million passengers in November 2023, up 4% from 11.2 million in the corresponding month last year. Its load factor was unmoved at 92%.

On a rolling 12-month basis to October, Ryanair said it carried 180.8 million passengers, up 14% from 158.4 million the year before. The load factor improved to 94% from 91%.

Ryanair added that it operated over 66,400 flights in November, but noted that over 960 flights were cancelled due to the Israel/Gaza conflict.

Meanwhile, Budapest-based Wizz Air said it carried 4.8 million passengers in November, up 29% from 3.7 million the year prior. Capacity for the month was also 29% higher at 5.4 million seats.

Its load factor improved year-on-year to 88.4% from 88.1%.

Wizz Air’s carbon dioxide emissions in November grew 32% to 452,743 tonnes from 343,874 last year.

The Hungarian airline said that it has decided to suspend operations in Israel until early January, adding that it continues to monitor the situation and ‘stands ready to redeploy capacity should conditions stabilise.’

Shares in Wizz Air were trading 1.1% lower at 1,926.00 pence each in London on Monday morning, while Ryanair shares were up 0.4% at €18.07 in Dublin.

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