Budget airlines Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Tuesday both reported growth in passenger numbers last month, while Wizz reduced its flight capacity to improve load factor.

Dublin-based Ryanair said it carried 13.0 million passengers in November, up 11% from 11.7 million a year before. This was on a stable load factor of 92%. Ryanair said it operated 73,750 flights last month.

On a rolling 12-month basis, Ryanair carried 196.1 million passengers, up 8.5% from 180.8 million in the year to November 2023. Load factor again was steady, at 94%.

Budapest-based Wizz Air said passenger numbers rose 1.7% to 4.84 million in November from 4.76 million a year before. Capacity was reduced by 1.7% to just under 5.3 million seats from 5.4 million a year before. This boosted load factor to 91.5% from 88.4%.

On a rolling 12-month basis, passenger numbers were up 5.1% to 62.6 million from 59.5 million, while capacity was up 6.1% to 69.3 million from 65.3 million. As a result, load factor worsened to 90.3% from 91.1%.

Wizz Air said it benefited from a ‘positive yield environment and booking profile’ in November and into December.

Ryanair shares were up 1.9% to €19.26 in Dublin on Tuesday morning. Wizz Air shares were up 2.5% to 1,296.00 pence in London.

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