Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, is expecting a slight increase in traffic for the month of August, surpassing the record 18.7 million passengers flown in July. According to Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson, bookings for September and October are also on track and in line with expectations. The airline has experienced a surge in passenger numbers since May, with June and July also setting new monthly records. Ryanair anticipates a post-pandemic travel rebound that will result in a 9% year-on-year increase in traffic for the financial year ending in March.
Mr. Wilson attributes the expected increase in August traffic to the fact that people are still traveling. He states that the booking momentum indicates that the airline’s predictions for September and October will be met. Addressing concerns raised last month about softening fares for last-minute bookings in June and July, Mr. Wilson dismisses them as blown out of proportion. He reiterates that Ryanair’s guidance for a low double-digit percentage rise in fares for this quarter remains unchanged.
During his visit to Berlin, Mr. Wilson warned the German government against raising aviation security fees, which he considers to be already excessive. While Ryanair would like to expand its presence in Germany, it is not necessary to achieve its overall goal of flying 300 million passengers per year by March 2034.
In July, Ryanair revised its full-year passenger forecast from 185 million to 183.5 million due to the impact of air traffic control strikes and potential delays in Boeing aircraft deliveries. However, Mr. Wilson assures that all new aircraft for this summer have been received and that the airline is satisfied with the delivery schedule provided by Boeing for the next batch of aircraft, starting in October. He confirms that there is currently an agreed timetable in place.
Ryanair’s optimistic outlook reflects its confidence in the recovery of the airline industry and the demand for air travel. As the pandemic continues to subside and travel restrictions ease, the airline anticipates a steady increase in passenger numbers. With its strategic planning and commitment to customer service, Ryanair aims to maintain its position as a leading player in the European aviation market.
