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| Ryanair warns of profits 'storm' | Ryanair warns of profits 'storm' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ryanair has warned that its profits could be halved this year as fuel costs rise and as the UK pound weakens. | Ryanair has warned that its profits could be halved this year as fuel costs rise and as the UK pound weakens. |
| The warning came as the budget airline reported that net profit dropped 27% to 35m euros ($52m; £26m) during the October to December quarter. | The warning came as the budget airline reported that net profit dropped 27% to 35m euros ($52m; £26m) during the October to December quarter. |
| The drop was its first quarterly decline in a more than a year. | The drop was its first quarterly decline in a more than a year. |
| Chief executive Michael O'Leary said that the weakening profits were part of a cyclical downturn in the industry and a "perfect storm" may be lying ahead. | Chief executive Michael O'Leary said that the weakening profits were part of a cyclical downturn in the industry and a "perfect storm" may be lying ahead. |
| The company's shares tumbled 11% to 3.2 euros on Monday. | The company's shares tumbled 11% to 3.2 euros on Monday. |
| 'Perfect storm' | 'Perfect storm' |
| "The European airline sector is presently facing one of these cyclical downturns, with the possibility of a 'perfect storm' of higher oil prices, poor consumer demand, weaker sterling and higher costs," said Mr O' Leary. | "The European airline sector is presently facing one of these cyclical downturns, with the possibility of a 'perfect storm' of higher oil prices, poor consumer demand, weaker sterling and higher costs," said Mr O' Leary. |
| The boss of the Irish airline predicted that the UK and the rest of Europe would not avoid a recession, but predicted a tougher economic environment after "five or six very good years". | The boss of the Irish airline predicted that the UK and the rest of Europe would not avoid a recession, but predicted a tougher economic environment after "five or six very good years". |
| There is no visibility, it's just guesswork what they are doing at this stage Bloxham analyst Ross McEvoy See Ryanair's share priceSee Easjet's share price | |
| And he rejected calls for the Bank of England to follow the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, in cutting interest rates when policy makers meet later this week. | And he rejected calls for the Bank of England to follow the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, in cutting interest rates when policy makers meet later this week. |
| "The whole system got very frothy over the last couple of years and we can't keep bailing ourselves out with these artificial interest rate cuts," Mr O' Leary told BBC News. "We need to tighten the belt and focus on reducing costs." | "The whole system got very frothy over the last couple of years and we can't keep bailing ourselves out with these artificial interest rate cuts," Mr O' Leary told BBC News. "We need to tighten the belt and focus on reducing costs." |
| Shares in rival budget airline Easyjet fell 6.6% to 435.7 pence on fears that it could experience similar problems. | Shares in rival budget airline Easyjet fell 6.6% to 435.7 pence on fears that it could experience similar problems. |
| The two firms have fought to increase market share by slashing air fares, but aim to boost earnings by expanding their routes, adding planes and charging for any service above the basic cost of the flight, including baggage check-in. | The two firms have fought to increase market share by slashing air fares, but aim to boost earnings by expanding their routes, adding planes and charging for any service above the basic cost of the flight, including baggage check-in. |
| Gloomy outlook | Gloomy outlook |
| Mr O'Leary said it was too early to make an accurate assessment of earnings for the firm's financial year beginning 1 April. | Mr O'Leary said it was too early to make an accurate assessment of earnings for the firm's financial year beginning 1 April. |
| But he warned that if oil prices remained above $85 a barrel, and if consumer sentiment and the UK pound stayed weak, then the airline's earnings for 2008 could fall by up to 50% to 235m euros. | But he warned that if oil prices remained above $85 a barrel, and if consumer sentiment and the UK pound stayed weak, then the airline's earnings for 2008 could fall by up to 50% to 235m euros. |
| He said that the company had not taken out protection, known as hedging, against the oil price or weak pound. | He said that the company had not taken out protection, known as hedging, against the oil price or weak pound. |
| "We remain essentially unhedged for next year," the budget airline said. | "We remain essentially unhedged for next year," the budget airline said. |
| Not being hedged essentially means the airline has not used financial instruments to insure itself against rising fuel costs or adverse exchange rate moves. | Not being hedged essentially means the airline has not used financial instruments to insure itself against rising fuel costs or adverse exchange rate moves. |
| The gloomy outlook is likely to weigh on Ryanair's share price, which has already slipped 18% this year, predicted Bloxham analyst Ross McEvoy. | The gloomy outlook is likely to weigh on Ryanair's share price, which has already slipped 18% this year, predicted Bloxham analyst Ross McEvoy. |
| "There is no visibility, it's just guesswork what they are doing at this stage," he said. | "There is no visibility, it's just guesswork what they are doing at this stage," he said. |