By Business & Finance 
Stephen O’Reilly, sales manager, SAS Ireland; Ian Hyland, CEO Business & Finance; Neil Sorahan, CFO, Ryanair
Ryanair records strong traffic numbers during April as the airline prepares for the 30th anniversary of its maiden flight.
Ryanair’s customer and load factor statistics for April have solidified the airline’s reputation for continued growth, with traffic growing 16% to 9 million customers, rolling annual traffic growing 12% to 91.8 million customers, while load factor rose 7% points to 91%.
Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer, Ryanair, said: “Ryanair’s April traffic grew thanks to our lower fares, our stronger forward bookings and the continuing success of our ‘Always Getting Better’ (AGB) customer experience improvement programme, which continues to deliver better than expected load factors on our significantly expanded summer schedule.
“Alongside our new routes, increased frequencies, Business Plus and Family Extra services, Ryanair customers can now look forward to further service enhancements, as we roll out year two of our AGB programme in 2015, which includes a new website, new app, new cabin interiors, new crew uniforms, improved inflight menus, reduced fees, and great new digital features such as ‘hold the fare’ and price comparison services, ” he continued.
2015 is the second year of Ryanair’s AVG programme, under which the company continues to improve its customer experience while transforming its mobile and digital platforms. The airline has recently lowered its missed departure fee and airport check-in fees – the latest initiatives under the programme.
May 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of Ryanair’s first flight from Waterford to London Gatwick. Over this 30-year period Ryanair has revolutionised air travel for European consumers by carrying over 750 million customers at low fares. The airline expects to carry 100 million customers in 2015/16, becoming the first EU airline to ever carry over 100 million customers in one year.
Ryanair currently operates more than 1,600 daily flights from 72 bases, connecting 189 destinations in 30 countries and operating a fleet of more than 300 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline recently announced orders for a further 280 new Boeing 737 aircraft, as well as options for 100 more Boeing 737 MAX 200s, which will enable Ryanair to lower fares and grow traffic from to over 150 million 2024. Ryanair currently has a team of more than 9,500 highly skilled aviation professionals, and has an industry leading 30-year safety record.
About the CEO
Michael O’Leary is chief executive of Ryanair. Often accused of PR spin, the flamboyant face of the low fares airline has regularly makes the headlines.
O’Leary has earned a fiery reputation for his maverick and no-nonsense management style based entirely on delivering results, which he has succeeded in doing since he took the helm in 1994.
O’Leary is originally from Mullingar and was educated at Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. He studied business at TCD, graduating in 1983 with a second class honours degree. He worked as a tax consultant with KPMG (Stokes Kennedy Crowley), and ran two small retail outlets before becoming financial advisor to Tony Ryan at his then small and troubled airline, Ryanair. He worked as deputy chief executive of the airline between 1991 and 1994, and was then promoted to chief executive of Ryanair.
Business & Finance, Company of the Month
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