Ryanair said on Tuesday it carried 4.72 million passengers in April or 15 percent more than a year earlier, thanks to its growing route network, but the average flight was not as full.
Europe's biggest low-cost airline said its load factor was 79 percent in the month, down from 83 percent a year earlier.
The carrier said the load factor in April 2007 was boosted by Easter, which fell in March this year.
