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Ryanair to cut winter flights in Europe to save on fuel costs

AFP
AFP - news@thelocal.com
Ryanair to cut winter flights in Europe to save on fuel costs
A Boeing 737 aircraft from the Irish low cost company Ryanair takes off from Toulouse Blagnac airport, in Toulouse, southern France, on May 20, 2026. Photo: Ed JONES / AFP
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Ryanair said Wednesday that it would reduce its winter schedule in Europe as the Irish no-frills airline and other carriers come up against higher fuel costs caused by the US-Iran war.

As a result, Europe's biggest airline by client numbers cut the passenger target for its fiscal full year to April 2027, to 214 million from 216 million.

"It is sensible to strategically reduce the group's exposure to unhedged jet fuel during the unprofitable winter schedule," Ryanair said in a statement.

Ryanair didn't release details of which flights would be axed over the winter.

The airline, which flies mainly across Europe, tends to post losses between November and March as demand tails off following the peak summer season.

It said it expected the "one-off winter schedule cut" to reduce its winter losses by €70 million to €100 million ($80 million to $115 million).

The airline also warned that European short-haul fares "will increase materially" if high oil prices continue through to summer 2027.

The Dublin-based carrier said that with the majority of its jet fuel for its current financial year secured at around $67 a barrel -- far below current prices -- it remained on course for a profitable 2026/27.

But it estimated net profit would come under Ryanair's record profit after tax of €2.17 billion seen in 2025/26.

 

 

 

 

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