Ryanair reported a Q3 loss of €306m, compared to a PY Q3 profit of €88m. Q3 traffic fell from 36m to just 8m (-78%).
Despite the results, In Dec., Ryanair increased its firm order for the B737-8200 ”Gamechanger” aircraft by 75 to 210 aircraft.
These environmentally friendly aircraft have 4% more seats, but burn 16% less fuel and lower noise emissions by 40%.
Christmas & New Year traffic was severely impacted by UK travel bans imposed at short notice by many EU Govts on 19 & 20 Dec.
These flight bans, and travel restrictions, saw the Ryanair’s Dec. traffic fall by 83% to just 1.9m passengers.
Ryanair expects the latest lockdowns and pre-arrival Covid test requirement to materially reduce flight schedules and traffic through to Easter.
The group’s full-year (FY21) traffic forecast was therefore reduced to ”between 26m to 30m” passengers.
The Covid pandemic has caused the closure of EU airlines including Flybe, Germanwings, Level and Montenegro Airlines.
Norwegian has already entered a creditor protection examinership and Eurocontrol predicts more EU airline failures in 2021.
