Load Factors - last 6 months view
As a regular SLF traveller, I have actually seen a change in the last 6 months to 9 months. Load factors have INCREASED.
My experiences are a mix of short and long haul, primarily with BA, easyJet and Ryanair. BA and easyJet flights have been between 95% to 100% full - mostly 100% full. The worst load factor I have encountered was on a Ryanair flight which was approx 70% full. Having travelled for the last 20 years and I can not recall a period where I have seen such a step up in load factors - it certainly was not this full a year or so back.
I checked the schedules and routes etc to see if flights have been chopped and thus load factors increased as there are less flights to a specified destination - but I don't see it. There appear to be, if anything, more destinations, especially in the low cost route networks.
Airports appear just as busy as always - I don't see any decline, especially having waited so many hours of my life in queues !!
I don't see a down-turn from a passenger perspective - my SLF experience is the inverse.
GSS