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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ryanair raises full-year profit forecast | Ryanair raises full-year profit forecast |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ryanair has raised its guidance for its annual results as it returned to profit in the last three months of 2014. | Ryanair has raised its guidance for its annual results as it returned to profit in the last three months of 2014. |
| The Irish airline said traffic for the three months to 30 March was expected to rise by 25%, while falling oil prices would cut costs by 5%. | The Irish airline said traffic for the three months to 30 March was expected to rise by 25%, while falling oil prices would cut costs by 5%. |
| It increased guidance for full-year net profits from between €810m and €830m to a range of €840m to €850m. | It increased guidance for full-year net profits from between €810m and €830m to a range of €840m to €850m. |
| However, it warned shareholders and analysts to "temper expectations" for full-year profits in 2015-16. | However, it warned shareholders and analysts to "temper expectations" for full-year profits in 2015-16. |
| Investors focused on the longer-term outlook and shares in the airline fell 5% in early trading. | |
| Ryanair said: "We believe that any growth in profits will be modest as our fuel is hedged at $92 [ a barrel], whereas some competitors... will be significant beneficiaries of lower oil prices and this may lead to downward pressure on airfares in 2015-16." | Ryanair said: "We believe that any growth in profits will be modest as our fuel is hedged at $92 [ a barrel], whereas some competitors... will be significant beneficiaries of lower oil prices and this may lead to downward pressure on airfares in 2015-16." |
| Neil Sorahan, Ryanair chief financial officer, said the falling oil price might benefit other airlines in the short-term, but added: "They still don't have the advantage that we have of a very, very low ex-fuel cost per passenger - some 70% lower than the next closest, Easyjet. Hedging is all about certainty." | Neil Sorahan, Ryanair chief financial officer, said the falling oil price might benefit other airlines in the short-term, but added: "They still don't have the advantage that we have of a very, very low ex-fuel cost per passenger - some 70% lower than the next closest, Easyjet. Hedging is all about certainty." |
| 'Cast-iron guarantee' | 'Cast-iron guarantee' |
| The airline, which holds a 29% stake in Aer Lingus - the subject of a €1.4bn takeover bid by British Airways owner IAG - said it had received no formal offer for its holding and that it would "carefully consider" any approach. | The airline, which holds a 29% stake in Aer Lingus - the subject of a €1.4bn takeover bid by British Airways owner IAG - said it had received no formal offer for its holding and that it would "carefully consider" any approach. |
| Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the concerns of the Irish government - the other big shareholder in Aer Lingus - about its sale to IAG were misplaced. | Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the concerns of the Irish government - the other big shareholder in Aer Lingus - about its sale to IAG were misplaced. |
| "More people fly to other London airports than fly to Heathrow on a daily basis from Ireland, so much of the noise about Aer Lingus or connectivity or Heathrow slots is entirely misplaced in what is a rapidly changing modern aviation world," he said. | "More people fly to other London airports than fly to Heathrow on a daily basis from Ireland, so much of the noise about Aer Lingus or connectivity or Heathrow slots is entirely misplaced in what is a rapidly changing modern aviation world," he said. |
| Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Sunday that IAG must provide a "cast-iron permanent guarantee" on flights to Ireland if the government was to consider the takeover offer for Aer Lingus. | Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Sunday that IAG must provide a "cast-iron permanent guarantee" on flights to Ireland if the government was to consider the takeover offer for Aer Lingus. |
| Share buyback | Share buyback |
| The better-than-expected €49m net profit for Ryanair's third quarter compared with a loss of €35m for the last three months of 2013. | The better-than-expected €49m net profit for Ryanair's third quarter compared with a loss of €35m for the last three months of 2013. |
| Traffic jumped by 14% to 21 million customers in the quarter. Average fares were up 2% to €40 as revenues increased by 17% to €1.13bn, while costs fell 6%. | Traffic jumped by 14% to 21 million customers in the quarter. Average fares were up 2% to €40 as revenues increased by 17% to €1.13bn, while costs fell 6%. |
| Load factors - a measure of how full its planes were - rose six percentage points to 88%. | Load factors - a measure of how full its planes were - rose six percentage points to 88%. |
| Ryanair also announced a €520m special dividend of €0.375 a share to be paid on 27 February. | Ryanair also announced a €520m special dividend of €0.375 a share to be paid on 27 February. |
| A €400m share buy-back programme will start on 12 February and continue until August. Shares in Ryanair have risen more than 40% in the past 12 months. | |
| Ryanair operates 1,600 flights a day in 30 countries with a fleet of 300 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. | Ryanair operates 1,600 flights a day in 30 countries with a fleet of 300 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. |
| It expects to carry 100 million customers in 2015-16 - the first EU airline to exceed the 100 million mark in a 12 month period. | It expects to carry 100 million customers in 2015-16 - the first EU airline to exceed the 100 million mark in a 12 month period. |