Ryanair records £1.2 billion annual profit as air fares rise

Ryanair has revealed an annual profit of €1.43 billion (£1.24bn) after a bounce back in travel demand and higher fares.

The budget airline's profit haul for the 12 months to March 31 compares with a net loss of €355 million (£309m) the previous year and comes after a 74% surge in passengers to 168.6 million.

The Dublin-based carrier said its air fares jumped 50% on levels seen a year earlier, to an average of €41 (£36).

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary flagged cost pressures over the year ahead, with the company’s fuel bill expected to surge by more than €1bn (£869m) due to higher oil prices.

He said he was “cautiously optimistic” the airline can grow profits modestly over the year ahead as he expects the ongoing recovery in travel and higher fares to help offset the fuel bill hit.

Mr O’Leary said Ryanair has grown its market share “significantly” in most of the European Union markets it operates in.

The highest gains were recorded in Italy (from 27% to 40%), Poland (from 26% to 36%) and Ireland (from 49% to 58%).

Ryanair will operate its largest schedule this summer, with more than 3,000 daily flights.

Demand for summer flights is “robust” and fares for the peak period are “trending ahead of last year”, Mr O’Leary said.

He expects the company’s annual fuel bill to increase by more than one billion euros (£869 million) because of higher oil prices.

Ryanair also anticipates its annual staff costs will soar by 73% to 1.19 billion euros (£1.03 billion) due to having a larger fleet, the ramp up of activities, accelerated pay restoration and the end of Covid-19 payroll support schemes.

“This guidance remains heavily dependent upon avoiding adverse events during 2023-24, such as the war in Ukraine or further, repeated, Boeing delivery delays.”

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