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Ryanair has warned that ticket prices on many routes, including popular flights to and from Spain, are now likely to rise more than it previously expected, as strong demand continues and passenger numbers are forecast to surge this year.

 

In its latest trading update, the airline said fares could increase by up to 9%, higher than the 7% rise it was forecasting back in November. Ryanair now expects to carry almost 208 million passengers over the year, driven by consistently busy travel periods and solid forward bookings.

 

Over the three months to the end of December, average fares rose by 4% to €44, while total revenue increased by 9% to €3.21bn. Passenger numbers were up 6% compared with the same period last year, reaching 47.5 million. The airline said strong bookings during the October half-term school holidays, along with Christmas and New Year travel, all fed into its more optimistic “fare outlook.”

 

Looking further ahead, Ryanair is sticking to its long-term target of reaching 300 million passengers a year by 2034. A big part of that growth is expected to come from its order of 300 Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft. Chief executive Michael O’Leary told analysts that it was now more likely the first 15 planes, due in spring 2027, would arrive “early rather than late”.

 

That is notable given Boeing’s recent production problems and last year’s factory strike in Seattle, which slowed manufacturing. Ryanair has previously said delivery delays have pushed fares higher because there were fewer seats available, but O’Leary said this week that he now expects the Max 10 order to arrive on schedule. The aircraft is more fuel efficient and has 21% more seats than the airline’s current 737 Next Generation planes.

 

The airline has also been making headlines outside of its financial results. Just last week, O’Leary ruled out using Elon Musk’s Starlink technology for in-flight wi-fi, triggering an online exchange between the two, which Ryanair later said even led to a small bump in bookings thanks to the publicity.

 

That followed attention last year on its strict cabin baggage rules, after Ryanair confirmed it had increased bonuses for ground staff who identify passengers with oversized bags, part of efforts to enforce luggage limits and keep flights on schedule.

 

While rising passenger numbers may be good news for the airline, it is less welcome for those planning to travel. With planes filling up and demand staying strong, Ryanair is clearly signalling that cheaper seats may be harder to find, especially during busy holiday periods, and that budget trips could soon be costing more than many travellers have become used to paying.

 

 

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