Low cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air both saw an increase in passenger traffic in September 2026. Ryanair transported 20.1 million passengers during the month, compared to 19.4 million a year earlier, marking a 3.6% rise. Its load factor, which measures how full its planes are on average, remained stable at 94%. The airline operated over 111,700 flights, but over 1,000 flight segments were canceled due to various disruptions, including issues with air traffic control in the UK and Belgium, and volcanic activity from Mount Etna in Italy. Over the past twelve months ending in September, Ryanair transported 215.1 million passengers, a 5% increase from the previous year. The airline’s average load factor also stayed at 94%. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, said the airline would reduce its winter flight capacity by 2 million seats. He called this a "prudent choice" due to the airline’s reliance on fuel hedging contracts, which currently cover only 80% of its fuel needs. Wilson also noted that high fuel prices are likely to lead to fewer flights and higher fares across the industry. "In general, in a context of expensive energy, market prices will increase, it is inevitable," he said. However, he emphasized that Ryanair would still keep its fares lower than those of its competitors. Wizz Air, a Hungarian low cost carrier, transported 7.78 million passengers in September, a 24.2% increase compared to the same period last year. Its capacity grew even faster, by 25.3%, to 8.46 million seats. However, its load factor dropped slightly to 92%, down 0.8 percentage points from September 2025. Wizz Air attributed this partly to a more favorable pricing environment, which improved significantly during the month compared to earlier periods. Over the past twelve months, Wizz Air transported 79.33 million passengers, a 19% increase from the previous year. Its capacity rose by 19.3% to 87.2 million seats, and its average load factor was 91%, a small decline of 0.2 points. Despite the growth in September, the airline reduced its planned capacity for the second half of its fiscal year by 5%. This decision was influenced by the volatility of fuel prices and geopolitical factors, including the impact of the war with Iran on the air transport market. During an investor day on September 17, Wizz Air outlined its medium-term goals for the fiscal year 2030. The airline aims to achieve revenue of 10 billion euros, an operating margin of 10%, and a return to an investment-grade financial rating. Its CEO, József Váradi, also set a target of having a fleet fully composed of modern Airbus A320neo aircraft, with 335 planes and 127 million passengers transported by 2030. While Ryanair continues to operate with a higher traffic volume and load factor, Wizz Air is showing faster growth, but it is adjusting its capacity in response to the geopolitical environment and rising fuel costs.