Low-cost airlines hitting highs

RYANAIR and Wizz Air said passenger numbers soared in November as the travel sector continued its post-pandemic bounce back.

Customers rushed to book holidays despite the cost-ofliving squeeze with travel remaining a top priority for many families, the low-cost carriers said.

Analysts said travellers are still ‘making up for opportunities lost’ during the pandemic. Wizz Air carried 4.8m passengers last month, which was 29.3pc more than November last year. Its load factor – which measures the percentage of available seats that have been sold – was 88.4pc during the month.

Over the last 12 months, 59.5m passengers have flown with Wizz Air, an increase of 34.9pc on the previous year.

Meanwhile, Ryanair reported a 4pc jump in passenger numbers to 11.7m and a load factor of 92pc in November. The airline has had 180.8m passengers in the last 12 months, up 14pc on 158.4m the year before.