Ryanair is considering a temporary staff wage freeze and higher airfares next summer
Ryanair is considering a temporary wage freeze for staff and expects fares to be materially higher next summer as fuel costs surge following the US-Israel war with Iran. The airline forecasts its fuel bill will rise by €2bn in the short term. Chief executive Michael O’Leary expects double-digit fare increases, which Ryanair says may not cover the added costs.
More context
With fuel costs surging in the wake of the US-Israel war with Iran, Ryanair is weighing a temporary staff pay freeze and anticipates materially higher airfares next summer. Its short-term fuel bill is projected to climb by €2bn (£1.6bn), while prices may stay elevated well into 2027 unless the conflict is swiftly resolved. Chief executive Michael O’Leary said fare rises would be unlikely to cover the full increase. Ryanair is reviewing costs as multi-year union pay agreements come to an end, and is also considering lower crew ratios and greater use of AI. It said 80% of its fuel bill was hedged, but the cost of the remainder had doubled. Its pre-tax profit fell 16% to €2.4bn in the six months to the end of September.
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Reporting
- BBC News — Ryanair says it may freeze workers' pay and raise airfares as fuel prices rise
- AOL — Ryanair says it may freeze workers' pay and raise airfares - AOL
- NewsCord — Ryanair Considers Temporary Pay Freeze as Fuel Costs Push Airfares Higher Next Summer: 5 outlets compared | NewsCord
- Operativ Məlumat Mərkəzi — Ryanair may freeze staff pay as fuel costs surge
- The Guardian — Ryanair considers pay freezes and reducing crew on flights as fuel costs soar
- personneltoday.com — Ryanair ponders wage freeze as fuel costs rise
Verifier’s note
BBC News, Personnel Today, and The Guardian report Ryanair weighing temporary pay freezes amid fuel-cost increases linked to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, alongside expected fare rises. AOL republishes the BBC report, and NewsCord and OperativMM also repeat the central claim.