(Alliance News) - Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Tuesday reported a steep drop in passenger numbers amid airspace and travel restrictions placed around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Irish budget carrier Ryanair saw a 70% year-on-year drop in July traffic as it operated just 40% of its July schedule with a 72% load factor. It carried 4.4 million passengers in July compared with 14.8 million a year ago. Year-to-date passenger numbers fell 35% to 96.8 million.
Central and Eastern Europe-focused Wizz Air saw a 53% year-on-year drop in July passenger numbers to 1.8 million from 3.9 million a year ago. Load factor declined to 60.5% from 95.6% and capacity was down 26% to 3.0 million seats.
Year-to-date, Wizz Air passenger numbers fell 23% in July to 28.3 million. Load factor was down to 88.6% from 93.2%.
Shares in FTSE 250-listed Wizz Air were up 4.0% at 3,302.00 pence each in London on Tuesday morning. Ryanair stock was trading 2.7% higher at EUR11.15 each.
Separately, rival airline easyJet PLC said that it will expand its flying schedule following improved customer demand and that third-quarter performance was in line with expectations, with a restart to flying during the period following lifting of Covid-19 related travel restrictions.
easyJet expects to fly 40% of planned capacity for the fourth quarter ending September 30. The company previously estimated to fly 30% of its capacity in the fourth-quarter.
Shares in easyjet were up 9.9% at 557.35p in London.
By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com
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