Ryanair announced that it anticipates ticket price increases to be higher than originally predicted. The airline cited strong demand, as the passenger number is expected to increase significantly in this year. Budget airline Ryanair now predicts that fares may rise by as much as 9% compared to the 7% it forecasted in November. It anticipates that there will be nearly 208 millions travelers in 2026.
The revenue, on the other hand, increased by 9%, to EUR3.21 billion, as passengers increased by 6%, to reach 47.5million. This growth was largely due to strong bookings made during October’s half-term. These factors also influence the airline’s fare forecasts.
Italian Competition Authority alleged that Ryanair was making it harder for traditional and online travel agents to buy tickets. It emphasizes that it sells tickets directly to consumers, which keeps prices lower.
After CEO Michael O’Leary rejected the idea to use Elon Musk’s Starlink as in-flight WiFI, the airline made headlines. This sparked an online debate that led to a slight increase in bookings.
O’Leary warned investors that external factors, like escalating conflict in the Middle East or Ukraine, could affect this prediction. Ryanair aims at increasing passenger numbers by 300 million in 2034, with a fleet of 300 Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft.
Max 10 is larger and fuel-efficient than current 737 Next Generation aircraft, increasing the possibility of future price stability. Boeing will release its results for the fourth quarter on Tuesday.
