Companies

Ryanair half-year profit falls 15% despite passenger growth

Ryanair's half-year profit falls to €2.15bn as lower fares and higher costs outweigh passenger growth. The figures cover the airline's financial first half.

· · 1-minute read

Source released

Ryanair aircraft at London Stansted Airport, photographed in May 2026
Photo: Mike Peel · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Archive May 2026

Verified facts

Ryanair reported half-year profit after tax of €2.15bn, down from €2.54bn. Passenger numbers rose 6% to 125.8 million, while average fares fell 4%. Revenue increased 3% to €10.08bn and operating costs rose 10% to €7.69bn.

The airline said higher prices on its unhedged fuel exposure contributed to the pressure. Its figures describe the first half of its financial year, not calendar-year earnings or UK-only traffic.

Apolifina analysis

More passengers need not mean more profit: fares, fuel costs and other expenses can move in different directions. That distinction matters when comparing travel businesses.

For UK travellers, the fare comparison describes what the airline earned across its network. It is not a quote for a particular flight or a promise that future UK fares will fall.

Uncertainty and risk

Fuel prices, demand and future capacity remain uncertain. These are historical results, not a guaranteed future return. Airline shares can lose value; no personal investment recommendation is made.

Primary sources

Source released 2 November 2026. Published 2 November 2026.

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