Ryanair passenger numbers jump 9% in December

(Sharecast News) - Budget airline Ryanair reported a 9% jump in December passenger numbers on Wednesday. Traffic rose to 12.54 million from 11.52m in the same month a year earlier, while the load factor - which gauges how full the planes are - ticked down to 91% from 92%.

On a rolling 12-month basis, passenger numbers rose 13% to 181.8m and the load factor increased to 94% from 92%.

Ryanair said it operated more than 72,500 flights in December but over 900 flights were cancelled due to the Israel/Gaza conflict.