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| Ryanair reports big rise in profits | Ryanair reports big rise in profits |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Irish airline Ryanair has reported a big increase in full-year profits. | Irish airline Ryanair has reported a big increase in full-year profits. |
| Net profit for the year to the end of March rose 66% to €867m (£614m; $948m), slightly ahead of analysts' expectations. | Net profit for the year to the end of March rose 66% to €867m (£614m; $948m), slightly ahead of analysts' expectations. |
| The airline's "Always Getting Better" customer experience programme had attracted "millions of new customers to Ryanair", chief executive Michael O'Leary said. | The airline's "Always Getting Better" customer experience programme had attracted "millions of new customers to Ryanair", chief executive Michael O'Leary said. |
| Falling oil prices also led to a lower fuel bill. | Falling oil prices also led to a lower fuel bill. |
| "Our AGB programme is transforming our customer experience, our service, and the way we listen and respond to our customers," Mr O'Leary said. | "Our AGB programme is transforming our customer experience, our service, and the way we listen and respond to our customers," Mr O'Leary said. |
| "We have won substantial traffic and share gains in all markets." | "We have won substantial traffic and share gains in all markets." |
| Passenger traffic was up 11% to 90.6 million customers, while total revenue rose 12% to more than €5.6bn. | Passenger traffic was up 11% to 90.6 million customers, while total revenue rose 12% to more than €5.6bn. |
| To cope with rising demand, Ryanair said it had ordered 183 Boeing 737-800 planes for delivery from 2014-18, and 200 Boeing 737 Max 200s from 2019-2023. | To cope with rising demand, Ryanair said it had ordered 183 Boeing 737-800 planes for delivery from 2014-18, and 200 Boeing 737 Max 200s from 2019-2023. |
| The new aircraft will be cheaper to finance and operate, with engines 18% more efficient than their predecessors, the company said. | The new aircraft will be cheaper to finance and operate, with engines 18% more efficient than their predecessors, the company said. |
| Much of the growth in passenger numbers is being driven by its new Business Plus and Family Extra services, it added. | Much of the growth in passenger numbers is being driven by its new Business Plus and Family Extra services, it added. |
| Analysis: Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent | |
| Who'd have thought it. Being nicer to customers has given Ryanair a big jump in profits, a big jump in passengers and much fuller planes. | |
| By "being nicer" I don't just mean being more friendly. As one analyst told me, it's more concrete than that. They've got a better website. An app. They're not as draconian about their luggage rules, and you can pay more to secure a seat next to your family/friends etc. | |
| Even by their standards, the double-digit rise in passenger numbers is big. And Ryanair has ambitious expansion plans too. With hundreds of new planes on order, they want to double the number of passengers with a decade or so. | |
| Takeover talk | Takeover talk |
| Ryanair owns 29.8% of rival Irish airline, Aer Lingus, and has tried unsuccessfully to take over the firm in the past. | Ryanair owns 29.8% of rival Irish airline, Aer Lingus, and has tried unsuccessfully to take over the firm in the past. |
| But Aer Lingus is now a takeover target for International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns British Airways and Iberia. | But Aer Lingus is now a takeover target for International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns British Airways and Iberia. |
| In February, the Irish government, which owns 25% of Aer Lingus, said it could not yet approve a £1bn offer from IAG for the carrier, because it wanted more clarity on guaranteeing jobs and more information on IAG's transatlantic plans. | In February, the Irish government, which owns 25% of Aer Lingus, said it could not yet approve a £1bn offer from IAG for the carrier, because it wanted more clarity on guaranteeing jobs and more information on IAG's transatlantic plans. |
| Aer Lingus, however, has welcomed IAG's offer. | Aer Lingus, however, has welcomed IAG's offer. |
| For its part, Ryanair said: "The Board of Ryanair will consider any offer (should we receive one) from IAG on its merits, if or when it is received." | For its part, Ryanair said: "The Board of Ryanair will consider any offer (should we receive one) from IAG on its merits, if or when it is received." |
| Chief financial officer Neil Sorahan told the BBC that "there's nothing on the table at the moment". | Chief financial officer Neil Sorahan told the BBC that "there's nothing on the table at the moment". |