Europe’s LCCs handle more than 200 million pax in 2007

The final two months of 2007 saw Europe’s leading LCCs continue to grow rapidly though load factors took a predictable tumble.

Source: Airline websites, UK CAA Airline data

In December Vueling’s rate of growth fell to below 60% for the first time as signs of its new strategy to grow more cautiously (and profitably) manifested themselves. Germanwings overtook (or possibly undertook) Aer Lingus to become the slowest growing LCC in both November and December. easyJet’s growth rate in December dipped below 10% for the first time since October 2006.

Source: Airline websites, UK CAA Airline data

Load factors in November and December for Aer Lingus, SkyEurope and Vueling dipped below 70% while no airline achieved 80% load factors in December, with easyJet and Ryanair coming closest with 79%.

LCCs carried more than 200 million passengers in 2007

Although defining who is and is not an LCC these days could keep a gaggle of academics busy for months, anna.aero has collected or estimated annual traffic data for 20 of Europe’s more obvious candidates for LCC club membership. This shows that in 2007 more than 200 million passengers flew on LCCs in and around Europe.

Source: Airline reports plus *anna.aero estimates

Traffic figures are a mix of ‘booked’ and ‘flown’ passengers depending on data sources. Air Berlin’s shopping spree has resulted in significant growth and a consolidation of its third place ranking behind Ryanair and easyJet. The planned merger between Germanwings and TUIfly.com will create a fourth LCC with annual traffic volumes of more than 20 million.

January 2008: Germanwings pax and loads down

Figures released for January reveal that Germanwings has achieved the worrying distinction of having fewer passengers than last January and at a lower load factor. Ryanair, easyJet, SkyEurope and Vueling also reported a downtown in load factors but all of them achieved passenger volume growth of between 7.3% (easyJet) and 38.6% (Vueling).

Ryanair reported their lowest monthly load factor (just 69%) in several years, as did easyJet who did marginally better at 72%.