RYANAIR has logged its all-time profit record in the past financial year, data has shown, as the company announces it will slash flights to low-traffic airports in Spain.
The Irish carrier raked in a staggering €2.2 billion in the 2025–2026 financial year ending in March, boosted by a 10% increase in fares across its network.
Marking a 40% increase compared to the previous year, the record comes as Ryanair braces for a summer season clouded by uncertainty, amid fears of dwindling fuel supplies and rising costs.
While company sources insist demand for the summer season remains ‘robust,’ Ryanair has unveiled a major operational shake-up, confirming the cancellation of dozens of routes to ‘markets with high fiscal pressure.’
Several low-traffic regional airports in Spain are expected to be hit, though major hubs such as Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and the Canary Islands are likely to be spared.
The restructuring follows warnings from CEO Michael O’Leary over rising environmental taxes in the European Union, which are forecast to reach €1.4 billion this fiscal year – around €300 million more than last year.
Routes to Austria, Belgium, and Germany have also reportedly been cut, even as Ryanair opens up to 130 new routes alongside new bases in Trapani (Sicily), Rabat (Morocco), and Tirana (Albania).
O’Leary also insisted Ryanair retained a strong cost advantage over European rivals, pointing to its fuel hedging strategy and robust balance sheet.
The airline says it has locked in 80% of its fuel needs for 2026–2027 at around $67 per barrel through April 2027.
Meanwhile, fuel prices on spot markets have surged past $150 per barrel.
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