Ryanair becomes first European airline to carry 200 million passengers in a year

Ryanair has made aviation history by becoming the first European airline to carry over 200 million passengers in a single calendar year.

The milestone was reached on 26th March, when 84-year-old Maria Cornelia Vos flew from Fuerteventura to Madrid, landing at 12:35 local time as the carrier’s symbolic 200 millionth passenger for the 2024/2025 period.

The achievement marks a significant moment for the Irish low-cost airline, which continues to lead the European market in terms of passenger volumes.

“We are delighted to welcome Maria Cornelia Vos as our 200 millionth passenger this year,” Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said. “Ryanair is proud to have carried 200 million passengers in 2024/2025 and we are pleased that these 200 million passengers have saved on average €5 billion, compared to the average air fares of our competitor airlines.”

This milestone comes as Ryanair posted robust growth figures for the start of 2025. The airline recorded a 14 per cent increase in passenger traffic in February compared to the same month last year, welcoming 12.6 million passengers – up from 11.1 million in February 2024.

In total, Ryanair operated more than 71,360 flights in February 2025, maintaining a high load factor of 92 per cent. Over the past 12 months, its rolling traffic figure rose by nine per cent to reach 198.8 million passengers, with a consistent load factor of 94 per cent.

The airline attributes this success to its low fares, extensive network, and continued investment in operational efficiency. Looking ahead, Ryanair plans to build on its momentum with fleet expansions, increased flight frequencies, and the launch of new routes across key European markets.