Ryanair claims to have carried more than 10 million international passengers in July, boasting that it is the first airline to do so in one month.
The Dublin-based no-friller flew 10.14 million customers last month, an increase of 11% from July 2014.
It reported that its flights were 95% full last month, up from 91% a year ago. This is Ryanair’s highest load factor.
"This is the first time ever that any airline has carried over 10 million international customers in one calendar month," declared Kenny Jacobs, of Ryanair.
He put the success down to “our lower fares, our stronger forward bookings and the continuing success of our ‘Always Getting Better’ customer experience programme.”
When attitudes and media reports about Ryanair soured, the airline introduced allocated seating, an improved website with fewer pitfalls, a slightly less rigid carry-on baggage policy, and less punitive charges for customer failures.
In addition to some other improvements in service, the carrier has been wooing business travellers.
The switch from nasty to nice has seen earnings rocket 66% to €867m in the year to the end of March, with profits in the first three months up sharply by 25% to €245m.
Ryanair, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, could not resist having a go at Aer Lingus.
"We carried more customers in one month (10.14 million in July) than Aer Lingus carried in a whole year (9.77 million in 2014)," Mr Jacobs said.
Ryanair’s three bids to buy Aer Lingus were rebuffed as the UK competition authorities ordered it to cut its nearly 30% holding in the airline.
Instead International Airlines Group, which owns BA and Iberia, will acquire Aer Lingus.
