Ryanair profit falls 6% as fuel costs rise

Ryanair said its second-quarter profit fell six percent as higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East war weighed on the Irish airline.

Profit after tax fell to 1.61 billion euros, or $1.8 billion, in the three months to the end of September, from 1.72 billion euros a year earlier, the Dublin-based carrier said Monday.

Revenue rose four percent to 5.7 billion euros, while passenger traffic increased five percent. Ryanair said fares fell two percent as the war led to consumer hesitancy and later bookings.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said jet-fuel prices were expected to remain elevated well into 2027 unless the Middle East conflict was resolved quickly. He said Ryanair's fuel bill was expected to rise by 2 billion euros in its next financial year, which could prompt cost-saving measures including temporary pay freezes, lower cabin crew ratios and greater use of AI in back-office operations.

O'Leary said it was too early to give full-year profit guidance, citing sensitivity to conflict escalation in the Middle East and Ukraine, fuel prices, macroeconomic shocks and European air traffic control strikes. Ryanair announced last month that it would reduce its winter schedule in response to higher fuel costs.