Ryanair Lowers Passenger Target Amid Rising Oil Prices

Ryanair Holdings Plc reduced its passenger target for fiscal 2027 to 214 million, down from an initial projection of 216 million. The Irish budget airline is implementing a smaller winter schedule from November to March to limit financial exposure to rising oil prices, which have been driven by a six-month conflict in Iran.

Company leadership expects this strategic reduction in traffic to lower winter losses by between €70 million and €100 million. While the airline maintains it is well-positioned for profitability, it anticipates that earnings will fall below the previous year's profit after tax.

Ryanair warned that sustained high fuel costs will likely trigger a material increase in short-haul airfares across Europe. The company noted that these rising costs could place rival carriers under significant financial pressure.