Ryanair vs. Wizz Air: Who Flew Higher Over the Holidays?
Photo Credit: A file image of a Wizz Air Airbus A321 aircraft. Wizz Air
Skift Take
Wizz Air’s year-on-year surge looks impressive, but Ryanair’s fuller planes and steadier execution still set the benchmark.
Two of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines have reported solid traffic growth over the all-important Christmas period. On Monday, both Ryanair and Wizz Air published traffic figures for December, offering early clues about the strength of the holiday season and the health of the travel sector.
Wizz Air posted the most eye-catching number. It carried 5.85 million passengers in December, up more than 15%, and capacity rose 16% to 6.8 million seats. This growth closed out a choppy year: The Hungarian operator navigated grounded aircraft, airport base closures, and intense competition.
Ryanair – the profitability poster child for airlines worldwide – also reported a steady rise in traffic, though not as large in percentage terms as Wizz. The Irish firm flew 14.5 million passengers in December, up 7%.
How Busy Were the Flights?The companies also shared crucial l
