Influencer Editorial Team
Ryanair is raising ticket prices following a 16% drop in annual profits caused by earlier fare reductions, despite strong demand for summer travel. The airline reported post-tax earnings of €1.61 billion (£1.35 billion) for the year ending 31 March—down from €1.92 billion (£1.61 billion) the previous year—though still its second-best result on record.
Average ticket prices were 7% lower during the year, reversing a sharp 21% rise in the previous period. The cuts were prompted by persistently high interest rates and inflation, which pressured the budget airline to lower prices in the first half of the year.
However, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary confirmed that fares are now climbing again, and he expects to recover “most, but not all” of last year’s decline. This rebound is already in motion, with ticket prices since April tracking “mid-to-high teen percent” increases year-on-year, and continued growth forecast through the busy summer months.
“We expect reasonable net profit growth in 2025-26,” O’Leary said, though he emphasized that projections remain uncertain due to potential external risks such as trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts, and persistent air traffic control issues in Europe. The airline now forecasts 206 million passengers for the current financial year, and maintains its long-term goal of transporting 300 million annually by 2034, supported by the delivery of 300 new Boeing planes by 2033.
Passenger numbers reached a record 200 million, boosted by the lower fares, meeting a target that had previously been scaled back due to delivery delays of new Boeing aircraft. Boeing’s production setbacks, partly due to regulatory scrutiny after a safety incident last year and staff strikes, continue to affect Ryanair’s fleet expansion.
