Ryanair transported 13.6 million passengers during the month, an 8% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Wizz Air carried 5.1 million passengers, marking a 1.9% year-on-year rise.

The disruptions affected several major airports, including Stansted—Ryanair’s primary UK hub—where foggy conditions caused delays.

Gatwick also faced over four days of flight disruptions due to persistent fog between Christmas and New Year.

Despite these challenges, Ryanair operated more than 77,000 flights in December, achieving a load factor of 92%, which measures how full flights are. For the full year of 2024, the airline transported 197.2 million passengers, reflecting an 8% increase from 2023.

However, airlines have faced declining average fares due to pressure on consumer spending. Ryanair reported in November that its average fare dropped by 10% in 2024, impacting its profits. Rising interest rates and efforts to ease financial strain on passengers have forced airlines to lower ticket prices.

Wizz Air’s total passenger count for 2024 reached 62.7 million, a 3.9% increase from the previous year.