Ryanair boss O39;Leary travel demand not insatiable
O39;Leary says travellers booking earlier at higher fares
He says booking levels 45 higher year on year

LONDON, Reuters Irish budget airline Ryanair39;s boss Michael O39;Leary said on Wednesday the UK air travel industry was weaker than Europe39;s as British consumers grapple with high interest rates and a costofliving crisis.

Europe itself is strong, Italian domestics are strong, Spanish domestics are strong, Eastern Europe is strong. The UK I think is probably a little bit weaker with the exception of London, he said, referring to the demand for air travel in each market.

People are generally struggling here in the UK, interest rates are much higher, energy prices are higher, the economy is not in a good place here. We would expect weakness in the winter, he added, speaking at a press conference in London on the airline39;s winter schedule.

Ryanair Europe39;s largest airline by passenger numbers is taking a cautious approach, O39;Leary told reporters even as he estimated current booking levels were around 45 higher than last year.

He said demand for travel is not insatiable, citing signs of a dip in consumer confidence.

Earlier, the head of British Airways owner IAG, Luis Gallego, said demand for travel was very, very strong, except from the corporate sector, adding that the recovery of corporate demand in Spain was happening faster than in Britain.

A rebound in travel following the damaging impact of…