Consumer friendly Ryanair reports passenger rise
Ryanair has attributed last month’s 7% passenger increase to improved customer service, easier-to-use website and other recent changes.
In February it carried 4.5 million customers, a rise of 300,000 on February 2013 figures.
Load factor increased by one percentage point, to 78% and annual traffic in the 12 months to February 2014 was up 3%, to 81.9 million.
Spokesman Robin Kiely attributed the increase to lower fares, easier-to-use website and recent customer service improvements including allocated seats for all customers and the use of personal electronic devices on all flights.
Kiely added: "Further improvements will be rolled out over the coming months as Ryanair continues to lower prices and improve our customer service."
Rival easyJet saw a 2.9% increase in February traffic, to 4.2 million. Load factor increased slightly, by 0.2 percentage points, to 90.7%.
For the rolling 12 months, easyJet reported a 3.5% increase, to 61.6 million passengers.
Last week, Ryanair said it planned to operate long-haul transatlantic flights to the US. However, a TravelMole poll suggests the flights would not be popular among the majority of people.
In response to the question: "Would any of your clients fly Ryanair all the way to the US?", 77% said "No", while 23% said "Yes".
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026