Ryanair said lower costs across the group were helping offset the impact of the pound and are now set to fall by 3% excluding fuel over its full year. Its lower fares also appear to be boosting sales as t he group edged up the full-year forecast for its load factor - a key measure of how well it fills its planes - to 94% and said it now expected to carry 119 million passengers, up 12% year on year. Chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "The recent sharp decline in sterling post-Brexit - which accounts for approximately 26% of Ryanair's full-year revenues - will weaken second-half yields by slightly more than we had originally expected. "While higher load factors, stronger traffic growth and better cost control will help to ameliorate these weaker revenues, it is prudent now to adjust full-year guidance." Its expected earnings will still mark a 7% rise on the previous year, although this is sharply lower than the 12% hike it had previously pencilled in.