Ryanair, the Irish budget airline, reported a record profit last year despite delays in the delivery of new Boeings. The airline transported 184 million passengers in the past fiscal year, which runs from April to the end of March. This is nearly a quarter more than in the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the company recorded a profit of 1.9 billion euros, a 34 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. The number of passengers was 9 percent higher than a year earlier.
Due to issues with aircraft manufacturer Boeing, Ryanair had to cancel many flights throughout the year. The airline had planned for a full supply of new aircraft, but far fewer arrived than expected. These delays are ongoing, causing Ryanair to cancel flights for the upcoming summer.
Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe by passenger numbers, received fewer planes than hoped. These issues are also affecting expected growth in the new year. Ryanair hopes to carry between 198 million and 200 million passengers this year, whereas a few months ago it anticipated transporting 205 million passengers.
The limited capacity combined with increasing passenger numbers is affecting ticket prices. Ryanair expects that the most expensive tickets this summer will be slightly pricier than last summer. A more precise estimate cannot yet be made as it also depends on the development of last-minute bookings.
Ryanair does not rule out the possibility of further delays in Boeing deliveries, although it considers this unlikely. These issues have been ongoing for some time. Boeing has been dealing with a series of safety problems that have raised concerns among regulators, consumers, and investors.