Ryanair traffic rises in September despite more strikes
A day after issuing a profit warning, Ryanair put out September traffic figures on Tuesday showing an 11% increase, or up 6% excluding its Laudamotion, impacted by strikes as 400 flights were cancelled.
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Load factor for the Irish budget airline was unchanged at 97%.
Communications director Kenny Jacobs said: "Regrettably, over 400 flights were cancelled in September because of two days of unnecessary pilot and cabin crew strikes in 5 countries, and repeated ATC staff shortages in the UK, Germany and France."
A day earlier, the Dublin-based group warned profits would be 12% lower than previously expected at €1.1-1.2bn.
Ryanair blamed strikes by cabin crew and pilots, lower traffic and weaker fares, also saying it cannot rule out further downgrades due to the potential for more disruptions later in the year.
The Irish budget airline cut full year profit guidance from €1.25-1.35bn previously. This excludes its acquired Laudamotion business, for which there will be start up losses of roughly €150m.
Fares fell around 3% in the second quarter of its financial year compared to an expected 1% decline and an anticipated recovery in the third quarter has not materialised as chief executive Michael O'Leary said "fares, and customer confidence, have been affected by worries about possible strikes".