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Ryanair Holdings PLC and Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Tuesday both reported strong increases in passenger traffic last month despite the US-Israeli war on Iran and the resulting hit to petroleum product supplies globally. Dublin-based Ryanair said it carried 19.3 million passengers in April, up 5.5% from 18.3 million a year before. The budget airline said it operated 108,000 flights last month with a 93% load factor, steady on a year before. On a rolling 12-month basis, Ryanair carried 209.3 million passengers, up 4.0% from 201.3 million a year before. The load factor was similarly steady at 94%. Ryanair made no comment in its traffic report on Tuesday on the impact of the Middle East conflict. Early in April, Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said disruption of jet fuel supplies is not expected until May, despite the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran since the start of March. ‘But if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June and obviously we hope the war will finish sooner than that and that the risk to supply will be eliminated,’ O’Leary said. Budapest-based Wizz Air on Tuesday said it carried 6.6 million passengers in April, up 22% on 5.4 million a year before. Load factor slipped, however, to 88.9% from 89.8%, as capacity was increased by 23%. On a rolling 12-month basis, Wizz carried 70.9 million passengers, up 11% from 63.9 million in April 2025, but with load factor down slightly to 90.6% from 91.1%. Wizz Air similarly made no direct comment on the Iran war but said it has secured 70% of summer jet fuel needs. The company has strong liquidity and is well hedged, according to CEO Jozsef Varadi. Back in August last year, Wizz closed its base in Abu Dhabi. Wizz also provides a monthly report of its carbon emissions. This increased 9.8% on a year before in April, due to the higher capacity flown, but was down 1.9% on a per-passenger-kilometre basis. Ryanair doesn’t provide a monthly carbon emissions report. Ryanair shares were down 3.0% to €22.80 in Frankfurt on Tuesday morning. Wizz Air shares were down 0.9% in London. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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