Budget airline Ryanair posts 273 million euro loss as Covid continues to wreak havoc

Low-cost airline Ryanair said Monday that it’s still facing a “challenging” environment and that it might finish the fiscal year “somewhere between a small loss and breakeven” as Covid-19 restrictions linger. The Irish firm reported a 273 million euro ($322 million) loss for the period between April and June, as lockdowns meant most flights over the Easter period were canceled and with European nations being cautious over the easing of travel restrictions.

In comparison, the airline posted a 185 million euro loss over the same first-quarter period a year ago. “Covid-19 continued to wreak havoc on our business,” Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said in a statement Monday. At the same time, operating costs also increased, deteriorating the company’s balance sheet. Over the year to June, costs rose by 116%, driven mostly by fuel, airport and route charges.

However, the outlook is highly dependent on the pandemic and successful vaccination campaigns. According to Our World in Data, in the European Union 46% of the adult population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. In the U.K., that number is 54.4%. Ryanair shares are up 42% from a year ago.

Budget airline Ryanair posts 273 million euro loss as Covid continues to wreak havoc, CNBC, Jul 26