Ryanair capacity exceeding pre-crisis levels in November

Pan-European operator Ryanair is exceeding 2019 capacity levels in November 2021 for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, as it emerges from the crisis ahead of rivals. According to the latest data from European air traffic manager Eurocontrol, Ryanair operated 2,096 flights in the week commencing 4 November – 6% more than it did in the same week of 2019. Wizz Air flights were just 1% down on pre-crisis levels, albeit it operated around a quarter of Ryanair’s flight numbers. Indeed, Ryanair’s flight numbers for the week were more than double those of any other carrier, with Turkish Airlines closest at 1,003. Among Europe’s 10 busiest airlines, the next closest operator to Ryanair and Wizz in terms of recovery in flight numbers was Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus, which was 14% down on 2019, followed by Turkish Airlines (19% down), KLM (20% down) and Air France (22% down). At the other end of the scale, British Airways flight numbers were 45% down.<br/>