Ryanair Holdings PLC (LSE:RYA) and Wizz Air Holdings PLC (AIM:WIZZ) have both announced higher passenger numbers for February, partially thanks to the month’s extra day.
Some 11.1 million people travelled with Ryanair over the month, up 5% on last February, with load factors remaining the same at 92%, the airline reported on Monday.
Wizz Air unveiled a 16% increase in passengers to just shy of 4.4 million, but saw a 3.3% fall in load factor to 90%.
According to Liberum, the reallocation of jets due to the Israel-Hamas conflict and fewer groundings than expected from inspections of Pratt & Whitney engines bumped capacity up for Wizz.
“We assume this means the associated compensation is also deferred since it ought to match when aircraft have to cease flying for the additional inspections,” analysts from the bank said.
Liberum stuck with ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ ratings for Ryanair and Wizz respectively on the figures meanwhile, noting that the extra leap year day aided a boost for each.
For Ryanair, passenger numbers could have increased by closer to 1% when accounting for the month’s 29th day, analysts said.
However, strong load factors likely mean the effects of online travel agents refusing the work with the airline had begun to disappear.
Wizz shares fell 1% to 2,212p on the news, while Ryanair sat flat at €19.92.