Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said in an interview on Thursday that demand for the company's services across Europe remained strong and bookings were up on last year's figures, making it “reasonably optimistic” about meeting its summer targets.
He also noted that Boeing had agreed to speed up the delivery of some aircraft, ending a series of delays that had hampered Ryanair's growth.
“We are seeing strong bookings for the peak summer months… Prices are holding steady,” O'Leary said, adding that bookings are 1 percent ahead of last year.
He reiterated his forecast from July that average fares were likely to recover almost entirely from the 7 percent decline seen between July and September last year, when Ryanair faced consumer wariness and a row with some online travel agents.
Achieving the summer targets will depend on completing bookings for the remainder of the company's second key quarter, which ends Sept. 30, he said.
O'Leary added that there was no sign yet that consumers' plans would change due to the unusually high heat this summer. However, he cautioned that the US tariffs could ultimately slow global growth.
“I think everyone is being cautious right now, and rightly so,” he said.
Boeing, which is due to deliver the last 29 planes from Ryanair's current 737 Max order this winter, agreed to deliver seven in August and seven in September, ahead of a previously agreed schedule.
“Boeing is doing an amazing job,” O'Leary said.
He spoke in Tirana, where he announced plans to double capacity to four million passengers a year by basing three planes at the airport from April next year. He described Albania as the hidden gem of the Adriatic.
Ryanair, Europe's biggest airline by passenger traffic, also unveiled plans to increase flights to Sweden by 25 percent this winter, adding eight new routes after scrapping an aviation tax early last month.
This will put additional pressure on local competitors such as SAS and Norwegian Air.
Ryanair's chief marketing officer Dara Brady called on Sweden to also suspend airport charges and possibly offer further incentives for growth, noting that this could allow Ryanair to double its traffic in Sweden by 2030.
“The market here is well positioned to grow significantly over the next few years,” Brady said at a news conference.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
