Ryanair was forced to cancel 870 flights during October due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to the airline's statistics. The low-cost carrier carried 17.1 million passengers in October, a 9% increase compared to the same month in 2022, but a drop from September 2023's 17.3 million.
Many airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv following the Hamas attack on 7 October. Ryanair suspended its routes until at least 6 November. Other airlines have different resumption dates: Wizz Air until 15 November, British Airways from 14 November, and easyJet until 30 November.
Wizz Air also saw a monthly dip, flying 5.4 million customers in October, down from 5.5 million in September, though year-on-year growth was 19%. The European airline did not share its cancellation figures. A Ryanair spokesperson said that a reduction in passenger numbers between September and October is normal as summer travel ends.
Separately, Ryanair was recently ordered to pay over £2 million to package holiday companies regarding Covid-related flight cancellations. The High Court ruled against Ryanair in a case brought by On The Beach, finding the airline had benefited from "unjust enrichment" and must refund package holiday providers for flights cancelled or altered during the pandemic.
