Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Europe’s biggest budget airline has announced a 12% rise in the profits for the months from October – December 2017 however has warned about ‘continuing uncertainty’ over Brexit.
Ryanair flew six per cent more passengers than in the same quarter in 2016 although there were thousands of cancelled flights owing to “pilot rostering failure.”
In September the airline abruptly cancelled flights due to crewing problems, and reduced its flying programme for the winter.
Average fares in the third quarter fell by 4 per cent to €32 (£28). But profits increased to €106m (£94m), representing over £3 per passenger carried, at a time of year when many airlines struggle to make money.
There is expected to be a rise of €45m (£40) in the staff costs due to pay rises for pilots and improving crewing ratios, which the airline describes as “a tightening market for experienced pilots“. But the chief executive said the move would not change the aim of raising annual passenger numbers from 129 million to 200 million by 2024.
Ryanair however, continues to share serious concern over Brexit as the airline thinks that there is a serious risk of disruption to U-EU flights from April 2019, unless a UK-EU bilateral (or transitional arrangement) is agreed in advance of September 2018. The airline said that the UK government under-estimates the likelihood of the flight disruptions that is bound to take place unless there is an agreeable solution.
Ryanair has announced flights to Amman and Aqaba in Jordan, though initially not from the UK.
Friday, March 24, 2023
