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Ryanair raises profit forecast by 20% amid surge in winter bookings Ryanair raises profit forecast by 20% amid surge in winter bookings
(about 2 hours later)
Ryanair hiked its annual profit forecast almost 20% on Monday on a surge in winter bookings and said it would slash fares by up to 10% in the new year to steal more market share from struggling higher-cost rivals. Ryanair has raised its annual profit forecast almost 20% on a surge in winter bookings and said it would cut fares by up to 10% in the new year to steal more market share from struggling higher-cost rivals.
The improved guidance comes after Europe’s largest low-cost carrier introduced a series of customer service improvements and offered a new business fare with free checked-in baggage and the ability to make flight changes. The improved guidance comes after Europe’s largest low-cost carrier introduced customer service improvements and offered a new business fare with free checked-in baggage and the ability to make flight changes.
It now predicts profit after tax for the year to March at between €750m (£586m) and €770m, up from a previous forecast of €620m to €650m and well ahead of an average forecast of €694m in a poll of analysts.It now predicts profit after tax for the year to March at between €750m (£586m) and €770m, up from a previous forecast of €620m to €650m and well ahead of an average forecast of €694m in a poll of analysts.
“We’ve had a bumper half year and we’ve had to boost our guidance as we got visibility on the second half of the year,” the chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said.“We’ve had a bumper half year and we’ve had to boost our guidance as we got visibility on the second half of the year,” the chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said.
“We are keeping prices low while improving the service. Its as simple as that.”“We are keeping prices low while improving the service. Its as simple as that.”
Higher-cost rivals Lufthansa and Air France have both lowered their profit forecasts in recent days on higher competition and the cost of industrial action. Higher-cost rivals Lufthansa and Air France have lowered their profit forecasts in recent days on higher competition and the cost of industrial action.
The sale of 2m more tickets than planned over the winter will consolidate the Irish airline’s position as Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, boosting annual numbers to an estimated 89m, up 8.5% over the previous year. The sale of 2m more tickets than planned over the winter will consolidate the Irish airline’s position as Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, boosting annual numbers to an estimated 89 million, up 8.5% over the previous year.
“The market was looking for a revision, but this is pushing it to the upper end of expectations,” said Mark Simpson, an analyst with Irish brokerage Goodbody. “They are using the strength of the first half to really grab market share in the second half.”“The market was looking for a revision, but this is pushing it to the upper end of expectations,” said Mark Simpson, an analyst with Irish brokerage Goodbody. “They are using the strength of the first half to really grab market share in the second half.”
Ryanair plans to boost its market share by cutting fares by up to 5% in the three months to December and by up to 10% in the first three months of next year.Ryanair plans to boost its market share by cutting fares by up to 5% in the three months to December and by up to 10% in the first three months of next year.
Traffic grew 4% in the first half and average fares were up 5%.Traffic grew 4% in the first half and average fares were up 5%.
The airline said it had tried to lock in recent falls in the price of oil, hedging 90% of its fuel needs for the year to March 2016 at around $93 per barrel and would try to extend that further in the coming months. The airline said it had tried to lock in recent falls in the price of oil, hedging 90% of its fuel needs for the year to March 2016 at about $93 (£58) a barrel and would try to extend that further in the coming months.