October 2, 2026 — Ryanair (FR) cancelled more than 1,000 flights in September yet still carried 20.1 million passengers at a 94% load factor, the airline said today.
What happened
Ryanair’s monthly traffic report shows passengers up 4% from 19.4 million a year earlier. The airline operated more than 111,700 flights in the month. Its rolling 12-month total reached 215.1 million passengers, up 5%.
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The airline blamed the cancellations on three things: two UK air traffic control failures within a fortnight, ATC strikes in Belgium, and ash from eruptions at Mount Etna. The first UK failure was a software fault on September 8. The second was a connectivity problem at the Prestwick centre in Scotland. Ryanair described the UK situation as a “collapse”.
September in numbers
| Measure | September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Passengers | 20.1 million (+4%) |
| Load factor | 94% (unchanged) |
| Flights operated | More than 111,700 |
| Flights cancelled | More than 1,000 |
| Rolling 12 months | 215.1 million passengers (+5%) |
What it means for non-revs
- A 94% load factor leaves very few empty seats. Ryanair’s flights are close to full on average, and fuller still on peak days.
- UK airspace has been fragile. Two ATC failures in two weeks stranded passengers who then needed seats on later flights. Leave a buffer day if you are standing by through UK airports on any airline.
- Watch Belgian ATC strike notices. They were one of the three causes Ryanair named, so check for new dates before listing on Belgium flights.
