easyJet, the London Luton-airport based low-cost carrier, reported a  15.9 per cent rise in its passenger numbers in the month of May, but its load factor declined by 0.4 percentage points, compared to an increase of 22 per cent in passenger numbers and a flat load factor (at 80 per cent) in the same month with Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair.

The airlines are facing this tough time of low and up in passengers load due to the rising costs of fuel and change in fare of flights, which are forcing many passengers to change the preferences for the routes operated by more than one airlines.

easyJet, one of the Europe's largest low-cost carriers, carried 3.878 million travellers in the month of May (Ryanair had 5.06 million), up 15.9 per cent on the 3.345 million transported in the month of May a year ago.

However the company's load factor dropped to 83.2 per cent from 83.6 per cent in May a year ago.

During the twelve months to the end of the month of May the number of travellers increased 15.2 per cent to 40.6 million from 35.2 million in the same period last year (Ryanair transported 52.46 million passengers). The rolling twelve month load factor also dropped to 83.2 per cent from 84 per cent..

The increase in its passenger numbers reflects the development of the route network of easyJet and the acquisition of GB Airways on the 31st of January.