Ryanair projects passenger growth and modest fare increases
Ryanair expects passenger numbers to reach 215 million next year while average fares could rise by 4 percent despite ongoing trade uncertainties in the sector.
Insights:
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Michael O'Leary michael o leary, the chief executive of Ryanair Holdings plc , announced that the airline expects to grow its passenger traffic and increase average fares during the next financial year. Based in Ireland 
IE, the carrier is projecting a rise in traveler numbers from 207 million in the previous 12 months to 215 million for the period beginning April 1. Alongside this 3.9 percent volume growth, Michael O'Learyindicated that average fares could potentially increase by 2 to 4 percent.
IE, the carrier is projecting a rise in traveler numbers from 207 million in the previous 12 months to 215 million for the period beginning April 1. Alongside this 3.9 percent volume growth, Michael O'Learyindicated that average fares could potentially increase by 2 to 4 percent.Despite these projections, the airline head maintained a cautious stance regarding the certainty of price hikes. Michael O'Learyexplicitly stated that Ryanair Holdings plcdoes not yet have a definitive view on whether these fare increases will materialize, remarking that the company does not have a clue yet regarding the final outcome. These expectations serve as forward guidance rather than a guarantee of market performance for the budget carrier.
