Ryanair carried 20.7 million passengers in May, marking a 4% rise compared with the same month last year, the airline said in an official statement. The budget carrier also reported a load factor of 95%, unchanged from a year earlier.
The airline said traffic for the rolling 12 months to the end of May reached 203.7 million passengers. That was up from the same period a year earlier and kept Ryanair among the world’s largest short-haul operators.
The figures underline the continued strength of demand for low-cost air travel across Ryanair’s network. The carrier has expanded sharply in recent years, using a large fleet and dense route system to attract price-sensitive travellers in Europe and beyond.
Passenger numbers remain a closely watched indicator for airlines because they reflect both demand and the efficiency of seat capacity. A high load factor usually suggests that aircraft are filling well, which can help support revenues even when fares remain under pressure.
Ryanair has frequently posted monthly traffic figures that show its scale in the European aviation market. May’s numbers show the airline continuing to carry more than 20 million passengers in a single month, a level that would have been exceptional for many carriers before the pandemic.
The latest update comes as airlines across the region balance strong travel demand with pressure on costs, airport capacity and air traffic control delays. For Ryanair, the data points to another month of solid performance as it heads into the summer travel season.
While the airline did not provide a route-by-route breakdown in the statement, its overall traffic figures suggest broad demand across its network. The company has built its business on frequent flights, low base fares and a wide European footprint.
Ryanair’s passenger growth also reflects the continued recovery and expansion of leisure travel in Europe. Many travellers have shifted towards lower-cost airlines as they look for cheaper options amid wider cost-of-living pressures.
The 95% load factor indicates that most of the airline’s available seats were filled in May. That figure is a key metric in aviation because it helps show how efficiently airlines are using their aircraft.
For the 12-month period, 203.7 million passengers places Ryanair in a strong position heading into the peak summer months. The airline’s scale gives it a significant advantage in markets where demand for short-haul travel remains high.
Ryanair has not said whether it expects the pace of growth to continue at the same rate through the rest of the year. But May’s results show the carrier remains one of Europe’s most heavily used airlines, with traffic holding above pre-pandemic levels and demand still rising.
