Ryanair expects to grow passenger numbers by 8% – to around 198 million to 200 million – between now and the end of next March, following a record year of earnings.
Ryanair has reported a 34% jump in annual post-tax profits – to €1.92bn – for the 12 months to the end of March; with group revenue ahead by 25% at €13.44bn and passenger numbers for the past 12 months up by 9% to 183.7 million.
Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary said it remains too early to provide an accurate earnings outlook for the just-started new financial year. However, Mr O’Leary did say that he is “cautiously optimistic” peak summer 2024 fares will be “flat to modestly ahead of last summer”.
Mr O’Leary said: “With EU short-haul capacity constrained, summer 2024 demand is positive, with bookings trending ahead of last year.”
“While visibility is limited, and the outcome will be heavily dependent on close-in peak summer 2024 pricing, we remain cautiously optimistic that peak summer 2024 fares will be flat to modestly ahead of last summer. Q4 [the fourth quarter of Ryanair’s current financial year 2025] will not benefit from an early Easter [as it did in the last financial year]. It is, therefore, too early to be able to provide sensible or accurate FY25 PAT [full year profit after-tax] guidance. The final outcome for FY25 will be heavily dependent upon avoiding adverse events during FY25 – such as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, extensive ATC disruptions or further Boeing delivery delays,” Mr O’Leary said.
