Ryanair price falls easing after summer of declining ticket costs for passengers

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Earlier this year the chief executive, Michael O’Leary, predicted average summer fares would rise by five to 10 per cent, however, the reality delivered very different results as Ryanair saw a price slump over the peak summer months. Mr O’Leary, said: “Forward bookings suggest that the third-quarter demand is strong and the decline in pricing appears to be moderating.” “We remain cautious on the third-quarter average fare outlook, expecting them to be modestly lower than the third quarter prior year.” Ryanair’s chief financial officer, Neil Sorahan, told Reuters that fare declines in the quarter ending in December would likely be below five per cent. Mr O’Leary said on Monday: “While modest delay compensation was received in H1 this does not offset the substantial impact of a 5m+ passenger shortfall in FY25 due to these delivery delays.” Ryanair’s profit fall announcement comes days after they also said they planned to cut capacity to and from UK airports by up to 10 per cent next year following Labour’s annual Budget last week. Mr O’Leary criticised the Budget on Friday due to its plans to raise air passenger duty by £2 per passenger, which they say will “burden” UK families going on holiday.