Ryanair announced on Wednesday that it will implement a reduction in its winter flight schedule across Europe. The decision comes as the airline, along with other carriers, faces a significant spike in fuel costs triggered by the ongoing war between the United States and Iran.
As a result of this strategic adjustment, Europe's largest airline by passenger volume has lowered its full-year passenger target for the period ending in April 2027. The goal has been revised downward from 216 million to 214 million. The company stated that it is prudent to minimize the group's exposure to unhedged jet fuel during the winter months, a period that typically proves unprofitable for the carrier as travel demand declines after the summer peak.
While Ryanair has not yet disclosed specific details regarding which routes will be affected, the airline expects this one-off reduction to lower its winter losses by between €70 million and €100 million, or approximately $80 million to $115 million.
Looking ahead, the Dublin-based airline cautioned that European short-haul fares are likely to increase materially if high oil prices persist through the summer of 2027. Despite these challenges, Ryanair maintains that it is on track for a profitable 2026/27 financial year, noting that the majority of its fuel requirements for this period were already secured at a price of around $67 per barrel. However, the carrier anticipates that its final net profit will fall below the record €2.17 billion profit recorded in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The airline, which flies mainly across Europe, tends to post losses between November and March as demand tails off following the peak summer season.
