Ryanair expects 16% more passengers in summer despite price increases

Ryanair expects to increase passenger traffic in Spain by 16% during the tourist season summer. The Irish budget airline estimates it will be able to carry 42 million travelers between April 1 and September 30 this year. Demand strength continues despite a 21% increase in global average rates recorded in the last financial year.

“We’ve had a very good year and we now have very strong reserves for July and August,” he explains. Elena Cabrera, Regional Manager for Ryanair Spain and Portugal. For the entire financial year, it is projected to reach 59 million passengers in our country. Looking ahead to the coming months, Ireland And Great Britain These are the origin markets that have the greatest impact in Spain, especially in destinations such as Canary Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga or Alicante.

As for the destinations that Ryanair’s Spanish customers travel to most frequently: Italy. “This is a market that is performing very well; both Rome and Milan, Bergamo or Verona“, Cabrera details. They also note the high demand for malt.

Cabrera notes that at the moment, “prices are very stable.” “It doesn’t look like they’re going to grow, they’re going to stay the same, so now is the perfect time to buy tickets,” he adds. The company’s own CEO, Michael O’Leary, assured that rates will likely be lower than the 5-10% increase expected in April. So far the company assures that this is not happening.

Last year, fares were significantly increased and are approaching the threshold of 50 euros per ticket (49.80 euros). This week it reported data for the financial year, which starts on April 1 and ends on March 31, in which the airline also saw profits rise by 34%, to 1,920 million euros.

An increase in revenue per passenger by 15% is accompanied by an increase in the so-called Additional income, corresponding to concepts such as aircraft sales, baggage or seat selection. “It’s increasing because the load factor on flights is increasing and because we have more flights,” Cabrera said. The company supports Occupancy 94% on their flights.

“People are not only traveling as much as before, but they are doing it even more,” Cabrera adds, citing the strength of demand from travelers today. Global traffic increased by 9% to 184 million passengers, up 23% from pre-pandemic levels.

And despite the delay in delivery of models Boeing According to forecasts by decision-makers, the number of travelers will reach 197-198 million this financial year. In Spain, the impact of delays in deliveries of aircraft from the North American manufacturer will be minimal. “What has been done is that instead of changing routes, frequencies have been adjusted,” Cabrera concludes.

Another factor the Irish airline is keeping an eye on is possible strikes by French air traffic controllers, which recently forced the cancellation of 300 flights, although this ultimately did not happen. “We have always asked to protect European skies. We ask that this affect flights within French territory, but not flights passing through its airspace,” explains Cabrera.

Spain is one of the destinations most susceptible to attacks from French air traffic controllers, as many aircraft arriving in our country from all over Europe pass through this territory. This year the strike lasted 64 days, and all indications are that the problem may extend into the summer season.

The company is still awaiting a merger Iberia and Air Europe. European Commission must allow the purchase transaction first, but is still analyzing which Air Europa routes should be abandoned so as not to affect competition. Ryanair is one of the airlines that IAG is willing to provide routes to receive Brussels approval. There are also Avianca, Binter, Iberojet, Volotea and World to Fly.

“We are completely open to this route proposal; we understand that there will be routes with Madrid, Barcelona, ​​the Balearic or Canary Islands,” explains Cabrera. With a target of 59 million passengers this financial year in mind, “we would be delighted to have these new slots (take-off and landing rights),” he concludes.

President of Iberia, Marco Sansaviniassured this week that the merger review could be extended “through the summer or beyond” by the community executive if it takes into account stoppages that could delay the process of collecting additional information without spending regulated time.