(Alliance News) - Budget airline Ryanair Holdings PLC posted a sharp year-on-year drop in passenger numbers in October, with peer Wizz Air Holdings PLC also recording a significant deterioration in performance, as most planes remain grounded by the virus pandemic.
In October, Ryanair saw passenger numbers plunged 70% to 4.1 million from 13.8 million a year prior. The airline operated around 40% of its normal October schedule with a 73% load factor.
For the same month, eastern Europe-focused Wizz Air reported a 69% drop in passenger numbers to 1.1 million from 3.7 million in October 2019. Capacity also fell 53% year-on-year to 1.7 million seats from 3.9 million seats the year prior. Load factor was 29.4 percentage points lower annually at 65.9%.
In September, Wizz Air's passenger numbers totalled 1.6 million and capacity was 2.4 million seats. Load factor was 64.6%.
Shares in Ryanair were trading 0.6% higher at EUR12.52 each on Tuesday in London. Wizz Air shares were 3.2% up at 3,392.00 pence each in London.
By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com
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Wizz Air (WIZZ)