Business

In this article

A Ryanair aircraft Boeing 737-800 prepares to take off at Krakow Airport.
Omar Marques | Getty Images News | Getty Images

LONDON — Low-cost airline Ryanair said Monday that it’s still facing a “challenging” environment and that it might finish the fiscal year “somewhere between a small loss and breakeven” as Covid-19 restrictions linger.

The Irish firm reported a 273 million euro ($322 million) loss for the period between April and June, as lockdowns meant most flights over the Easter period were canceled and with European nations being cautious over the easing of travel restrictions.

In comparison, the airline posted a 185 million euro loss over the same first-quarter period a year ago.

“Covid-19 continued to wreak havoc on our business,” Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said in a statement Monday.

At the same time, operating costs also increased, deteriorating the company’s balance sheet. Over the year to June, costs rose by 116%, driven mostly by fuel, airport and route charges.

However, O’Leary expects traffic to pick up in the coming weeks.

“We expect traffic to rise from over 5 million in June to almost 9 million in July, and over 10 million in August, as long as there are no further Covid setbacks in Europe,” he said.

However, the outlook is highly dependent on the pandemic and successful vaccination campaigns. According to Our World in Data, in the European Union 46% of the adult population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. In the U.K., that number is 54.4%.

Ryanair shares are up 42% from a year ago.

Articles You May Like

Celestica (CLS) and AMC Networks (AMCX): 12/20/24 Bull & Bear
FDA says the Zepbound shortage is over. Here’s what that means for compounding pharmacies, patients who used off-brand versions
Trump’s 25% tariff could be an existential threat to Canada’s recovering auto industry
Can I Claim My Boyfriend or Girlfriend as a Dependent on My Tax Return?
CFPB takes aim at ‘bait-and-switch’ credit card rewards — consumers forfeit about $500 million worth each year