Ryanair overtakes Iberia as largest carrier in Spain

Ryanair stated it has overtaken Iberia as the largest carrier by passenger numbers operating in Spain, based on AENA data (Expansion/Bloomberg/AFP, 01-Sep-2010). The LCC handled 12.3 million passengers in the seven months to Jul-2010, a 30% year-on-year increase, while Iberia reportedly handled 11.8 million passengers in the period, a 5.7% decline. In Jul-2010, Ryanair reportedly transported 3.0 million passengers to/from Spain, compared with 2.8 million for Iberia, prompting the carrier to comment that it has "dethroned Iberia as the preferred company in Spain".