Ryanair said it expected to make a full-year net loss of as much as €950 million ($1.1 billion) in the most challenging year in its history, but sounded an optimistic note about a summer recovery as vaccines are rolled out across Europe.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has denied claims by ULCC Ryanair that a sudden change in policy has forced the airline to stop operating on 12 UK domestic and international routes.
Europe’s largest LCC Ryanair placed a follow-on order for 75 Boeing 737-8200s on Dec. 3, in what is the first major commitment for the MAX since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. FAA’s decision to unground the aircraft.
Air traffic in Europe fell to 35.5% of 2019 levels in the week to Nov. 29, Eurocontrol figures showed, as COVID-19 travel restrictions and national lockdowns continued to affect demand for travel.
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary expects passenger volumes to reach 70% of pre-COVID levels in 2021, especially if vaccines can be made widely available by the spring.
Extending the temporary waiver on airport slot rules in Europe through the summer 2021 season will slow the recovery and prevent competition returning to the industry, according to the CEOs of Ryanair Group and Wizz Air.
The brand of Ryanair’s Austrian carrier Laudamotion will finally disappear from the market once and for all in the coming weeks, Laudamotion CEO Andreas Gruber said.
European airlines’ capacity plans were already indicating that traffic levels would fall further in the coming weeks. As lockdown after lockdown begins, the mood within the industry is gloomier still.
Ryanair will suspend operations from Irish airports with the exception of Dublin (DUB) for four weeks starting Nov. 14 due to COVID-19 restrictions there.
Amid growing competition on Italian domestic routes, Ryanair is planning to grow its network in the country while at the same time preparing to reduce operations in its home market of Ireland.