EasyJet carried almost 10% more travellers in 2017 than in 2016, according to its latest figures released today.
Passenger numbers in December rose 5.5% year-on-year to just under 5.9 million passengers, despite adverse weather conditions and industrial action causing 580 cancellations.
Load factor increased by 1.5 percentage points to 91.4%.
The rolling 12-month passenger figure was 81.6 million, a jump of 9.6% on the 74.5 million people who travelled in 2016.
Meanwhile, Norwegian reported its highest ever annual passenger figures, with more than 33 million passengers and a load factor of 87.5%.
It said 54 new routes, mainly between Europe and the US, had fuelled the growth.
Chief executive Bjorn Kjos said: "Our international footprint grows stronger, in line with the Norwegian Group’s strategy. Our Scandinavian operation is stable and positive, and we see that our long-haul and short-haul networks complement each other, consequently strengthening our competitiveness.
"Our growing long-haul networks from the UK and Ireland continue to be well-received by passengers, proving the demand for high-quality, affordable travel. Increased tourism creates economic value and new jobs at all the destinations we serve."
Norwegian carried 2,402,005 passengers in December, up 12% from the same month last year. The load factor was 84.6%, the same as December 2016.
