Omicron emerged in late-2021 and spread rapidly, quickly becoming the dominant variant – triggering fresh curbs on travel over Christmas and new year 2021/22.

A year on, and the impact of Covid on travel is now significantly reduced, highlighted by significant year-on-year increases in January passenger volumes.

Ryanair’s January carryings increased by 69% from seven million in January 2022 to 11.8 million last month, with load factor increasing from 79% to 91%. Ryanair operated in excess of 68,200 flights in January 2023.

Rolling passenger figures for the 12 months to the end of January 2023 came in at 165.3 million, more than double (111%) the same period a year earlier. Rolling 12-month load factor was 93%, up from 81% from January 2021 to January 2022.

Wizz Air, meanwhile, posted January carryings of 4.15 million, up 73.1% from 2.4 million a year earlier. Load factor was 86%, up from 79.6% in January 2022.

Wizz’s rolling passenger numbers for the year to 31 January 2023 ran to 47.4 million, double the 23.5 million it carried a year earlier.

Load factor in the year to the end of January 2023, meanwhile, increased from 76.1% a year earlier to 87%.