Ryanair has expressed dissatisfaction with its recent business performance, leading to disappointment among investors. The Irish low-cost airline’s stock has plummeted by 17% following a quarterly earnings report that fell short of expectations. The company reported revenue of €3.6 billion ($4 billion), which remained unchanged from the previous year, but profits nearly halved to €336 million. CEO Michael O’Leary noted that while more passengers are flying with the airline—up 10% to 55 million—this growth comes at a cost.
During the earnings call, O’Leary explained, “Traffic growth is strong, but it’s only strong at a price.” He acknowledged the need to continually stimulate fare rates and bookings, mentioning that demand in the lead-up to peak summer months has been notably weaker than anticipated.
The airline is also facing challenges from rising labor costs and has pointed fingers at Boeing’s ongoing delivery delays, a persistent issue for O’Leary. Despite standing by the company after a mid-flight incident with a 737 Max 9, he has repeatedly urged Boeing to improve its performance.
O’Leary further indicated that Ryanair’s customers seem to be experiencing more strain in the recovery phase post-COVID-19, as inflation and sluggish economic growth take a toll in the European Union. This situation could potentially lead to a reduction in airline capacity.
He conveyed that Ryanair would have less capacity for the summer of 2025 than initially planned due to Boeing’s delivery issues, resulting in a two-year period of no capacity growth. He suggested that if consumer pressure continues for the next year to eighteen months, this could prove beneficial for Ryanair.