Ryanair

Since its establishment in 1984, Ryanair has grown from a small airline, flying the short journey from Waterford to London Gatwick, into Europe's largest carrier. There have been over 19,000 people working for the company, most employed and contracted by agencies to fly on Ryanair aircraft.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/trade-union-insists-ryanair-offer-direct-employment-to-pilots-1.3634974|title=Trade union insists Ryanair offer direct employment to pilots|last=O'Halloran|first=Barry|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=6 January 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/about-us/history-of-ryanair/ |title=Annual Report |website=corporate.ryanair.com |access-date=23 July 2019 |archive-date=26 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326024157/https://corporate.ryanair.com/about-us/history-of-ryanair/ |url-status=dead}}

The airline went public in 1997,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/business/worldbusiness/28iht-ryanair.html|title=Ryanair profit falls, hammering shares|last=Jolly|first=David|date=28 July 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=6 January 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} and the money raised was used to expand the airline into a pan-European carrier. Revenues have risen from €640 million in 2003 to €4.66 billion in 2010.{{Cite web |title=Ryanair (RYAAY) - Revenue |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/ryanair/revenue/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=companiesmarketcap.com |language=en-us}} Similarly, net profits have increased from €48 million to €339 million over the same period.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

File:Ryanair EMB-110.jpg in 1988]]

File:Ryanair ATR-42-300.jpg in 1991]]

Ryanair was founded in 1984 as "Danren Enterprises" by Christopher Ryan, Liam Lonergan (owner of Irish travel agent Club Travel), and Irish businessman Tony Ryan, founder of Guinness Peat Aviation.{{Cite news|author=Fottrell, Quentin |title=The rise and rise of Ryanair |date=6 June 2004 |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/06/06/story57027153.asp |work=The Sunday Business Post|access-date=18 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050126154251/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/06/06/story57027153.asp |archive-date=26 January 2005 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/flying-too-close-to-the-sun-how-poor-management-and-greed-downed-gpa-1.755419|title=Flying too close to the sun – how poor management and greed downed GPA|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=6 January 2020}} The airline was shortly renamed "Ryanair". It began operations in 1985 flying a 15-seat Embraer Bandeirante turboprop aircraft between Waterford and Gatwick Airport.{{cite news |url=http://airlineworld.wordpress.com/2007/10/04/tony-ryan-founder-of-ryanair-passes-away/ |title=Tony Ryan Obituary |publisher=airlineworld.wordpress.com |date=4 October 2007}}{{Cite web |title=Ryanair |url=https://twitter.com/Ryanair/status/1148168384175136769?lang=en |access-date=17 September 2023 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}

The first chief executive was Eugene O'Neill (1956–2018), who had formerly worked as managing director of Ryan's Sunday Tribune newspaper and as Ryan's personal assistant. O'Neill was talented at marketing but did not focus on costs, and the airline lost money in its early years. Ryan vetoed O'Neill's proposal to take Aer Lingus to the European Commission for breach of competition rules, because at the time Aer Lingus was state-owned and Ryanair depended on the Irish government for its route licences. Ryan sacked O'Neill in September 1987, who sued for wrongful dismissal.{{cite news |title=First chief executive of Ryanair who fell foul of Tony Ryan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/first-chief-executive-of-ryanair-who-fell-foul-of-tony-ryan-1.3467376 |access-date=29 August 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

In 1986, the company added a second route from Dublin to Luton, thus directly competing with the Aer Lingus/British Airways duopoly for the first time. Under partial European Economic Community (EEC) deregulation, airlines could begin new international intra-EEC services as long as one of the two governments approved (the so-called "double-disapproval" regime). The Irish government at the time refused its approval to protect Aer Lingus, but Britain, under Margaret Thatcher's deregulating Conservative government, approved the service. With two routes and two aircraft, the fledgling airline carried 82,000 passengers in one year.{{cite news|last=Edwards|first=Elaine|title=Fledgling Ryanair clashed with minister over approval for jets|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fledgling-ryanair-clashed-with-minister-over-approval-for-jets-1.2911717|access-date=2 March 2021|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}{{cite news |title=O'Leary's Ryanair ticket to the top |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/olearys-ryanair-ticket-to-the-top-6dxl6nfd6kp |access-date=29 August 2023 |date=29 August 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Tony Ryan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1565131/Tony-Ryan.html |access-date=29 August 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=5 October 2007 |language=en}}

In 1986, the directors of Ryanair took an 85% stake in London European Airways. From 1987, this provided a connection with the Luton Ryanair service onward to Amsterdam and Brussels.{{cite journal|journal=Flight International|title=LEA is back from the dead|date=9 May 1987|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%200343.html|page=7|access-date=4 May 2014}} In 1988, London European operated as Ryanair Europe and later began to operate charter services.{{cite journal|journal=Flight International|title=World Airline Directory|date=26 March 1988|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%200796.html|page=108|access-date=4 May 2014}}{{cite journal|journal=Flight International|title=World Airline Directory|date=26 March 1988|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200926.html|page=116|access-date=4 May 2014}} That same year, Michael O'Leary joined the company as chief financial officer.{{Cite news|last=Espiner|first=Tom|date=4 February 2019|title=Michael O'Leary: Ryanair's outspoken boss|language=en-GB|agency=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46364169|access-date=26 June 2020}} In 1989, a Short Sandringham was operated with Ryanair sponsorship titles but never flew revenue-generating services for the airline.{{cite book|last=Simper|first=Robert|title=River Medway and the Swale|publisher=Creekside Publishing|year=1998|isbn=0-9519927-7-5|location=Lavenham|page=23}}

Due to decreasing profits, the company restructured in 1990, copying the low-fares model of Southwest Airlines, after O'Leary visited the company. In a 1994 lecture, O'Leary described the strategy as adopting a simple all-Boeing 737 fleet, pursuing expansion over yield, creating a culture of cost-cutting, and "re-educating" the customer to prefer lower prices to "frills". The objective of a 30-minute turnaround enabled aircraft to make more flights per day. According to O'Leary, lower fares attracted new customers to air travel, rather than Ryanair competing directly with other airlines for passengers.Michael O'Leary: [https://archive.org/details/ryanair-southwest The challenge of replicating Southwest Airlines in Europe], 1994.

File:Ryanair BAC 111 EI-BVI.jpg series 500 aircraft between 1988 and 1993]]

File:Ryanair 737-2T5 EI-CKS.jpg in 2001]]

File:Ryanair b737-800 nykoping ei-csv arp.jpg in a former livery with smaller titles in 2005]]

In 1992, the European Union's deregulation of the air industry in Europe gave carriers from one EU country the right to operate scheduled services between other EU states and represented a major opportunity for Ryanair.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Ryanair-Holdings-plc-Company-History.html |title=Ryanair Holdings plc – Company History |publisher=Fundinguniverse.com |access-date=25 December 2011}} After a successful flotation on the Dublin and the NASDAQ stock exchanges, the airline launched services to Stockholm, Sandefjord Airport, Torp (110 km south of Oslo), Beauvais–Tillé northwest of Paris, and Charleroi near Brussels.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/doc/investor/1999/arpt_1999.pdf |title=Ryanair Holding plc: Consolidated Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 1999 |publisher=Ryanair.com |access-date=30 September 2012}} In 1998, flush with new capital, the airline placed a massive US$2 bn order for 45 new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/ie/about |title=About Us |publisher=Ryanair.com |access-date=15 February 2013}}

In 1994, Michael O'Leary became the sixth chief executive officer.{{cite news |title=Tony Ryan |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1565131/Tony-Ryan.html |access-date=29 August 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=5 October 2007 |language=en}} Ryan clashed with O'Leary, with Ryan wanting the airline's PR stunts to be less aggressive, and O'Leary suggesting that Ryan should leave the board.{{cite news |last1=Coyle |first1=Colin |title=Ryanair founder's war with O'Leary |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ryanair-founders-war-with-oleary-wt83fh6c272 |access-date=29 August 2023 |date=29 August 2023 |language=en}}

The airline launched its website in 2000, with online booking initially said to be a small and unimportant part of the software supporting the site. Increasingly online booking contributed to the aim of cutting flight prices by selling directly to passengers and excluding the costs imposed by travel agents. Within a year, the website was handling three-quarters of all bookings. By December 2023 the website hit 40M monthly visits.{{cite web|title=Ryanair website traffic stats |url=https://www.similarweb.com/website/ryanair.com/|access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en}}

Ryanair launched a new base of operation in Charleroi Airport in 2001. Later that year, the airline ordered 155 new 737-800 aircraft from Boeing at what was believed to be a substantial discount, to be delivered over eight years from 2002 to 2010.{{cite news|title=Ryanair in Boeing spending spree|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1779700.stm|access-date=23 July 2012|agency=BBC News|date=24 January 2002}} Approximately 100 of these aircraft had been delivered by the end of 2005, although there were slight delays in late 2005 caused by production disruptions arising from a Boeing machinists' strike.{{cite news |last=McCaffrey |first=Una |date=9 September 2005 |title=Ryanair's new routes could face delays due to strike |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/ryanair-s-new-routes-could-face-delays-due-to-strike-1.496173 |url-status=live |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022212155/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2005/0923/1127148456756.html |archive-date=22 October 2012}}

In April 2003, Ryanair acquired its ailing competitor Buzz from KLM.{{cite news |last=Coyle |first=Dominic |date=29 April 2003 |title=Buzz gets go-ahead to resume flights |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/buzz-gets-go-ahead-to-resume-flights-1.357233 |url-status=live |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022212215/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2003/0429/1049936392583.html |archive-date=22 October 2012}}

During 2004, Michael O'Leary warned of a "bloodbath" during the winter from which only two or three low-cost airlines would emerge.{{cite news |last=Creaton |first=Siobhan |date=6 June 2004 |title=Ryanair warns of 'bloodbath' in airline industry |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/ryanair-warns-of-bloodbath-in-airline-industry-1.1143061 |url-status=live |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022212236/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2004/0602/1084325421698.html |archive-date=22 October 2012}} A loss of €3.3 million in the second quarter of 2004 was the airline's first recorded loss for 15 years but the airline soon became profitable again. The enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004 opened the way to more new routes for Ryanair.{{cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Jane |date=22 June 2005 |title=Ryanair sticks to 10% growth forecast |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/ryanair-sticks-to-10-growth-forecast-1.458806 |url-status=live |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022212257/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2005/0622/1118963289362.html |archive-date=22 October 2012}}

The rapid addition of new routes and new bases has enabled growth in passenger numbers and made Ryanair among the largest carriers on European routes. In August 2005, the airline claimed to have carried 20% more passengers within Europe than British Airways.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/en/about |title=About Us |publisher=Ryanair.com |access-date=25 December 2011}}

For the six months ending on 30 September 2006, passenger traffic grew by more than a fifth to 22.1 million passengers and revenues rose by a third to €1.256 billion.Airliner World, January 2007

On 13 February 2006, Britain's Channel 4 broadcast a documentary as part of its Dispatches series, "Ryanair caught napping". The documentary criticised Ryanair's training policies, security procedures and aircraft hygiene, and highlighted poor staff morale. Ryanair denied the allegations{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/site/promos/dispatches/12.%20Ryanair%20Statement%20for%20Channel%204%20Dispatches%20Programme%20%5B2006-02-09%5D.pdf |title=Ryanair Statement for Channel 4 Dispatches Programme |date=9 February 2006 |publisher=Ryanair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327090420/http://www.ryanair.com/site/promos/dispatches/12.%20Ryanair%20Statement%20for%20Channel%204%20Dispatches%20Programme%20%5B2006-02-09%5D.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2009}} and claimed that promotional materials, in particular a photograph of a stewardess sleeping, had been faked by Dispatches.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/site/promos/dispatches/14.%20Dispatches'%20misleading%20advertisement%20in%20media%20%5B2006-02-13%5D.pdf |title=Dispatches misleading advertisement in media |date=13 February 2006 |publisher=Ryanair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321110710/http://www.ryanair.com/site/promos/dispatches/14.%20Dispatches%27%20misleading%20advertisement%20in%20media%20%5B2006-02-13%5D.pdf |archive-date=21 March 2006}}

On 5 October 2006, Ryanair launched a €1.48 billion (£1 billion; $1.9 billion) bid to buy fellow Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus. On 5 October 2006, Aer Lingus rejected Ryanair's takeover bid, saying it undervalued the airline.{{cite news |title=Aer Lingus says no as Ryanair ups stake |date=5 October 2006 |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1005/ryanair-business.html |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |access-date=18 December 2006}}

Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, stated in April 2007 that Ryanair planned to launch a new long-haul airline around 2009.Boston Globe, 12 April 2007 The new airline would be separate from Ryanair and operate under different branding. It would offer both low costs with fares starting at €10.00 and a business class service which would be much more expensive, intended to rival airlines like Virgin Atlantic. The new airline would operate from Ryanair's existing bases in Europe to approximately six new bases in the United States. The new American bases will not be main bases such as New York's JFK airport, but smaller airports located outside major cities. Since the Boeing 787 was sold out of production until at least 2012, and the Airbus A350 XWB will not enter service until 2014, this contributed to a delay in the airline's launch. It was said that the name of the new airline would be RyanAtlantic and it would sell tickets through the Ryanair website under an alliance agreement.{{cite news |author=Black |first=Fergus |date=13 April 2007 |title=O'Leary plans new all-frills airline for flights to US |work=Irish Independent |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/oleary-plans-new-all-frills-airline-for-flights-to-us/26265364.html |access-date=18 December 2023}} In February 2010, O'Leary said the launch would be delayed until 2014, at the earliest, because of the shortage of suitable, cheap aircraft.{{Cite news |last=Riegel |first=Ralph |date=3 February 2010 |title=Ryanair wages price war on Aer Lingus in holiday market |newspaper=Irish Independent |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ryanair-wages-price-war-on-aer-lingus-in-holiday-market/26628918.html |access-date=18 December 2023}}{{cite web|last=Young |first=Kathryn M. |url=http://atwonline.com/news/long-haul-low-cost-flya-slated-2013-launch |title=Long-haul, low-cost FlyA slated for 2013 launch | News content from |publisher=ATWOnline |date=2 July 2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}

In August 2007, the company started charging passengers to check in at the airport, therefore reversing its policy of paying for online check-in. It says that cutting airport check-in reduces overhead costs.{{Cite news |date=24 August 2007 |title=Ryanair to charge for airport check-in |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/24/216325/ryanair-to-charge-for-airport-check-in.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915090527/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/24/216325/ryanair-to-charge-for-airport-check-in.html |archive-date=15 September 2007 |work=Flight International}}{{Cite web |date=24 August 2007 |title=Ryanair Makes Web Check-in Free To Reduce Airport Queues |url=https://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=07&month=aug&story=gen-en-240807 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910202638/https://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=07&month=aug&story=gen-en-240807 |archive-date=10 September 2007 |website=Ryanair}}

In October 2008, Ryanair withdrew operations from a base in Europe for the first time when it closed its base in Valencia, Spain.[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/41e9ce1e-a1f8-11dd-a32f-000077b07658.html Ryanair closes Valencia base] By Kevin Done, Aerospace Correspondent in the Financial Times 24 October 2008 19:26 Ryanair estimated the closure cost 750 jobs.{{Cite news |date=24 October 2008 |title=Ryanair to stop Valencia flights |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-to-stop-valencia-flights-971915.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930115421/http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=08&month=oct&story=gen-en-241008 |archive-date=30 September 2009}}

On 1 December 2008, Ryanair launched a second takeover bid of Aer Lingus, offering an all-cash offer of €748 million (£619 mils; US$950 million). The offer was a 28% premium on the value of Aer Lingus stock, during the preceding 30 days. Ryanair said, "Aer Lingus, as a small, stand-alone, regional airline, has been marginalised and bypassed, as most other EU flag carriers consolidate." The two airlines would operate separately. Ryanair stated it would double the Aer Lingus short-haul fleet from 33 to 66 and create 1,000 new jobs.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7757971.stm |agency=BBC News |title=Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair offer |date=1 December 2008}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122811697181368635?mod=googlenews_wsj |work=The Wall Street Journal |title=Ryanair's Renewed Offer for Aer Lingus Is Rejected |first1=Daniel |last1=Michaels |first2=Quentin |last2=Fottrell |first3=Kaveri |last3=Niththyananthan |date=1 December 2008}}[http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1201/ryanair-business.html Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair's offer – RTÉ News]. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. (1 December 2008). Retrieved 9 December 2010. The Aer Lingus board rejected the offer and advised its shareholders to take no action.[http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1201/aerlingus.html Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair takeover bid – RTÉ News]. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. (1 December 2008). Retrieved 9 December 2010. On 22 January 2009, Ryanair walked away from the Aer Lingus takeover bid after it was rejected by the Irish government on the grounds it undervalued the airline and would harm competition.{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUKLM15889320090122?sp=true |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728190703/http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUKLM15889320090122?sp=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2012 |work=Reuters |title=Update 4-Ryanair concedes defeat in Aer Lingus bid |date=22 January 2009 |first=Andras |last=Gergely}} However, Ryanair retained a stake in Aer Lingus; in October 2010, competition regulators in the UK opened an inquiry, due to concerns that Ryanair's stake may lead to a reduction in competition.{{cite web |last=Kaminski-Morrow |first=David |date=29 October 2010 |title=UK regulator surprises Ryanair with Aer Lingus merger probe |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/uk-regulator-surprises-ryanair-with-aer-lingus-merger-probe/96605.article |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=FlightGlobal}}

In 2009, Ryanair announced that it was in talks with Boeing and Airbus about an order that could include up to 200 aircraft. Even though Ryanair had dealt with Boeing aircraft up to that point, Michael O'Leary said he would buy Airbus aircraft if it offered a better deal. Airbus Chief Commercial Officer John Leahy denied in February 2009 that any negotiations were taking place.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=3 February 2009 |title=Airbus: No Deal with Ryanair |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ryanair-negotiating-with-boeing-airbus-over-purchases-1.835476 |url-status=live |access-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105192309/http://blog.seattlepi.com/northwestfrequentflier/archives/161312.asp |archive-date=5 November 2009}}

On 21 February 2009, Ryanair confirmed it was planning to close all check-in desks by the start of 2010. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, said passengers would be able to leave their luggage at a bag drop, but everything else would be done online. This became reality in October 2009.{{cite news |publisher=BBC News |title=Ryanair to abolish check-in desks |date=21 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7903656.stm |access-date=4 January 2010}}

In June 2009, Ryanair reported its first annual loss, with a loss posted of €169 million for the financial year ending 31 March.{{cite news |publisher=BBC News |title=Ryanair reports first annual loss |date=2 June 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8078349.stm |access-date=21 January 2012}}

In November 2009, Ryanair announced that negotiations with Boeing had proceeded poorly and that Ryanair was thinking of stopping the negotiations, then putting at 200 aircraft for delivery between 2013 and 2016, and simply returning cash to shareholders.{{cite web|url=http://www.asap.co.uk/news/ryanair-threatens-to-end-relationship-with-boeing-over-prices-5634519.html |title=Ryanair Threatens to End Relationship with Boeing Over Prices – Travel News |publisher=Asap.co.uk |date=3 November 2009 |access-date=25 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204030924/http://www.asap.co.uk/news/ryanair-threatens-to-end-relationship-with-boeing-over-prices-5634519.html |archive-date=4 February 2012 }} Boeing's competitor Airbus was mentioned again as an alternative vendor for Ryanair, but both Michael O'Leary and Airbus CCO John Leahy dismissed this.{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Pete |date=8 December 2009 |title=Ryanair says likely to shelve 200-plane Boeing deal |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ryanair-boeing-idCNGEE5B70YY20091208/ |access-date=18 December 2023}} In December 2009, Ryanair confirmed that negotiations with Boeing had indeed failed. Plans were to take all 112 aircraft already on order at that point, with the last deliveries occurring in 2012, for a total fleet of over 300. Ryanair confirmed that an agreement had been met on price, but it had failed to agree on conditions, as Ryanair had wanted to carry forward certain conditions from its previous contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/gen-en-181209 |title=News: Ryanair Confirms Boeing Negotiations Have Terminated... |publisher=Ryanair.com |date=18 December 2009 |access-date=16 May 2010}}

File:Ryanair - EI-EPD - Boeing 737-800 - Cabin View.jpg featuring the old Ryanair seats]]

File:16-11-16-Glasgow Airport-RR2 7312.jpg, Scotland]]

File:Ryanair Abflughalle at Bremen Airport 001.JPG, Germany]]

File:Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-DAK 2 (27632982163).jpg, England]]

In April 2010, after a week of flight disruption in Europe caused by the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland, Ryanair decided to end refusals to comply with EU regulations which stated it was obliged to reimburse stranded passengers.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8684683.stm |title=Italy fines Ryanair over volcano ash 'failings' |publisher=BBC News |date=15 May 2010|access-date=16 May 2010}} In a company statement released on 22 April 2010, Ryanair described the regulations as 'unfair'. On 29 April 2010, Ryanair cancelled all of its routes from Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport after talks with the airport's management on reducing fees failed. As the airport is the only one serving Budapest, there is no lower-cost airport nearby. In June 2010, Ryanair called for the Irish government to scrap its tourist tax, implying it was destroying tourism in Ireland.[https://archive.today/20120802190632/http://www.insideireland.ie/index.cfm/section/news/ext/airporttaxes001/category/1062 Ryanair calls for end to tourist tax]. InsideIreland.ie (16 June 2010). Retrieved 9 December 2010. In August 2010, Ryanair held a press conference in Plovdiv and announced its first-ever Bulgarian destination connecting Plovdiv with London Stansted. The service was planned to start in November 2010 with two flights weekly.{{cite web

|url=http://news.plovdiv24.bg/181975.html|publisher=plovdiv24.bg|language=bg|date=2 August 2010|title=Райън еър обявяват официално стъпването си в Пловдив тази сряда|access-date=4 August 2010}} In late 2010, Ryanair began withdrawing all routes from its smallest base, Belfast City, and Shannon due to increased airport fees.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/oleary-claims-shannon-dying-on-its-feet-as-ryanair-cuts-flights-by-21-130266.html|title=O'Leary claims Shannon dying on its feet as Ryanair cuts flights by 21%|date=9 September 2010|publisher=The Irish Examiner |access-date=9 October 2010}}

In the last three months of 2010, Ryanair made a loss of €10.3 million, compared with a loss of €10.9 million in the same period the previous year. More than 3,000 flights were cancelled in the quarter. Ryanair blamed the losses on strikes and flight cancellations due to severe weather.{{cite news |work=The Guardian |title=Ryanair blames snow and strikes for third-quarter loss |date=31 January 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/31/ryanair-blames-snow-strikes-loss |access-date=21 January 2012 |location=London}}

In March 2011, Ryanair opened a new maintenance hangar at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, making it Ryanair's biggest fleet maintenance base. In June 2011, Ryanair and COMAC signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of the C-919, a Boeing 737 competitor.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-and-comac-commercial-aircraft-corp-of-china-sign-c-919-mou-in-paris |title=Ryanair and Comac (Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China) Sign C 919... |publisher=Ryanair.com |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=30 September 2012}}

Ryanair cut capacity by grounding 80 aircraft between November 2011 and April 2012 due to the high cost of fuel and continuing weak economic conditions.{{cite news|last=Odell |first=Mark |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/26dee794-8512-11e0-871e-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss |title=Ryanair to cut capacity for first time |work=Financial Times |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=25 December 2011}}

On 19 June 2012, Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary announced his intention to make an all-cash offer for Aer Lingus. The bid was blocked by the European Commission in 2017, which had also blocked an earlier bid.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2013/0227/369828-eu-blocks-ryanair-takeover-deal-for-aer-lingus/|title=EU blocks Ryanair takeover deal for Aer Lingus|date=27 February 2013|agency=RTE|access-date=27 September 2018|language=en}}

According to research in October 2013, Ryanair was the cheapest low-cost airline in Europe in basic price (excluding fees) but was the fourth cheapest when fees were included.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10393475/Ryanair-not-the-cheapest-airline.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10393475/Ryanair-not-the-cheapest-airline.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Ryanair: not the cheapest airline?|work=Telegraph|date=4 February 2016|last1=Paris|first1=Natalie}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.whichairline.com/news/Battle-of-the-low-cost-airlines%3A-is-Ryanair-knocked-off-the-perch|title=Battle of the low-cost airlines: is Ryanair the cheapest?|work=WhichAirline.com}}

On 25 October 2013, Ryanair announced what it described as a series of "customer service improvements", to take place over the next six months. These included lower fees for reprinting boarding passes, free changes of minor errors on bookings within 24 hours, and a free second small carry-on bag. Ryanair said it was making the changes as a result of customer feedback.{{cite web |url=http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-announces-customer-service-improvements-over-next-6-months |title=Ryanair Announces Customer Service Improvements Over Next 6 Months |publisher=Ryanair |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013}}

On 27 January 2014, Ryanair moved into a new €20m, 100,000 sq ft Dublin head office in Airside Business Park, having outgrown its previous office within Dublin Airport.{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Ciara |date=14 February 2013 |title=Ryanair buys new Dublin offices |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-buys-new-dublin-offices-1.1255056 |access-date=18 December 2023}} The building was officially opened on Thursday 3 April 2014 by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and the Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisin Quinn.

On 8 September 2014, Ryanair agreed to purchase up to 200 Boeing 737 MAX 8s (100 confirmed and 100 options) for over $22 billion.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

File:Ryanair UK - G-RUKE - Boeing 737-800 - Split Scimitar Winglets.jpg

The airline confirmed plans to open an operating base at Milan Malpensa Airport in December 2015, initially with one aircraft.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2023 |title=RyanAir Baggage Policy |url=https://airlinespolicy.com/baggage-policy/ryanair-baggage-policy/ |access-date=19 December 2023}}

On 9 March 2016, Ryanair launched a corporate jet charter service, offering a Boeing 737-700 for corporate or group hire.{{cite web|url=http://corporate.ryanair.com/news/news/160309-corporate-jet-hire/?market=en |title=Corporate Jet Hire |website=Ryanair.com |access-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314051550/http://corporate.ryanair.com/news/news/160309-corporate-jet-hire/?market=en |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}{{cite web |last=Kollewe |first=Julia |date=9 March 2016 |title=Ryanair launches corporate jet service |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/09/ryanair-launches-corporate-jet-service |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=The Guardian}}

In November 2016, Ryanair launched a new package holiday service named Ryanair Holidays. The new service offers flights, accommodation, and transfer packages. The service was launched in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany, with other markets to follow.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/ryanair-launch-new-package-holiday-9373075|title=Ryanair launch new package holiday service offering "lowest prices" in the industry – as the airline takes on likes of Thomas Cook |first=Emma|last=Munbodh |work=Mirror UK|date=1 December 2016 |access-date=2 December 2016}} Ryanair partnered with Spain-based tour operator, Logitravel, and accommodation provider, World2Meet, to create Ryanair Holidays.{{Cite news |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=1 December 2016 |title=Ryanair launches package holiday service |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/01/ryanair-launches-package-holiday-service |url-status=live |access-date=19 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202040904/http://corporate.ryanair.com/news/news/161201-ryanair-launches-ryanair-holidays-service/?market=en |archive-date=2 December 2016}}

In April 2017, Ryanair started issuing tickets for connecting flights, meaning if a connection is missed, the customer will be rebooked at no extra cost and compensated according to the EU Flight Compensation Regulation. To begin with, such tickets were only sold for flights with connections at Rome-Fiumicino airport.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-06/ryanair-to-embrace-connecting-flights-in-move-toward-hub-model Ryanair to Embrace Connecting Flights in Move Toward Hub Model] (published 6 April 2017 by Bloomberg)[https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/faq-overview/Making-a-reservation/Connecting-flights Connecting Flights] (read 31 May 2017, published by Ryanair)

In 2017, the company announced plans to add 50 new aircraft to its fleet every year for the next five years, aiming to reach 160 million passengers by the early 2020s, up from 120 million passengers.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-businessreport.com/article/ryanairs-remarkable-growth-story/ |title=Ryanair's remarkable growth story has only just begun |publisher=The Business Report |date=January 2017 |access-date=14 July 2017}}

Ryanair was subject to widespread criticism{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41291483 |title=Ryanair to cancel 40–50 flights per day for six weeks |date=16 September 2017 |agency=BBC News |access-date=17 September 2017}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-16/ryanair-cancels-82-flights-after-it-messed-up-crew-s-time-off |title=Ryanair Cancels 82 Flights After It 'Messed Up' Crew's Time Off |last=Katz |first=Bemjamin |date=16 September 2017 |work=Bloomberh |access-date=17 September 2017}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-17/ryan-cancelling-50-flights-per-day-leaving-some-customers-strand/8954236 |title=Ryanair to cancel 40–50 flights per day for six weeks to improve punctuality and give staff leave |date=17 September 2017 |publisher=ABC Australia |access-date=17 September 2017}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/ryanair-reveals-sundays-cancelled-flights-including-eight-to-and-from-dublin-36138812.html |title=Ryanair reveals Sunday's cancelled flights – including eight to and from Dublin |date=16 September 2017 |work=independent.ie |access-date=17 September 2017}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-cancellations-flights-plans-wrecked-pilots-leave-a7951056.html |title=Around 30,000 Ryanair passengers have had their weekend travel plans wrecked by short-notice flight cancellations. |last=Calder |first=Simon |date=16 September 2017 |work=The Independent |access-date=17 September 2017}} after it announced that it would be cancelling between 40 and 50 flights per day (about 2% of total daily flights) during September and October 2017. Flights were cancelled with very little notice, sometimes only hours before departure. Ryanair said that the cancellations aimed "to improve its system-wide punctuality"{{cite web |url=http://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-to-cancel-less-than-2-of-flights-over-next-6-weeks-to-improve-punctuality/ |title=Ryanair to Cancel Less Than 2% of Flights Over Next 6 Weeks to Improve Punctuality |date=17 September 2017 |access-date=17 September 2017}} which had dropped significantly in the first two weeks of September which the airline attributed to "ATC capacity delays and strikes, weather disruptions and the impact of increased holiday allocations to pilots and cabin crew." In subsequent statements, Ryanair acknowledged that it had "messed up" holiday schedules for pilots, including a change to the calendar year for how vacations were calculated.{{cite news|title=Ryanair cancels flights after 'messing up' pilot holidays|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-41298931|access-date=17 September 2017|agency=BBC News|date=17 September 2017}} In late December that year, a survey rated Ryanair and Vueling equally the worst in the world for customer service among short-haul carriers in the Which? survey. Ryanair responded, "[t]his survey of 9,000 Which? members is unrepresentative and worthless, during a year when Ryanair is the world’s largest international airline (129 m customers) and is also the world’s fastest-growing airline (up to 9 m customers in 2017). We have apologised for the deeply regretted flight cancellations and winter schedule changes, and the disruption they caused to less than 1% of our customers".{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/ryanair-comes-in-last-place-in-airline-satisfaction-survey-818988.html|title=Latest: Ryanair brand Which? customer satisfaction survey 'worthless'|work=Irish Examiner|date=16 December 2017}}

For over a decade, Ryanair had only operated with its Irish Air Operator's Certificate and solely under the Ryanair brand. However, starting in 2018 the airline began introducing additional brands and operating on multiple certificates in different countries.

[[File:SP-RSA (44724544240).jpg|thumb|Boeing 737 operated by Polish Ryanair Sun subsidiary, recognisable only through Polish aircraft registration.

Ryanair Sun was subsequently renamed Buzz in fall of 2019, and gained its own livery with the rebrand.]]

File:SP-RZA Boeing 737-8Max Buzz Airlines Stansted 22.11.21.jpg in Buzz livery]]

In 2017, Ryanair announced that it would launch an independent Polish subsidiary in 2018, operating charter flights from Poland to Mediterranean destinations. Aside from turning away from the company's policy of only operating on a single Air Operator's Certificate, the step also meant that Ryanair would be launching charter flights after having focused only on scheduled operations before.{{cite web|url=https://flyinginireland.com/2017/04/ryanair-announce-new-charter-airline-ryanair-sun/|title= Ryanair Announce New Charter Airline – Ryanair Sun|date=4 April 2017|first=Mart|last=Dwyer}} The subsidiary was branded Ryanair Sun and received its Polish Air Operator's Certificate in April 2018 and subsequently launched{{cite web|url=https://turystyka.rp.pl/transport/5488-startuja-nowe-linie-czarterowe-ryanair-sun|title=Startują nowe linie czarterowe – Ryanair Sun|first=Grażyna |last=Szypuła |trans-title=New charter airlines are launched - Ryanair Sun |language=Pl |date=12 April 2018}} Initially, it had only one former Ryanair Boeing 737-800 and complemented its operation with wet-leased aircraft from its mother company. In late 2018, Ryanair Sun was expanded by transferring all Polish-based Ryanair aircraft to it. The decision was made in the wake of staff costs and unions.{{clarify |date=October 2019 |reason="Staff costs and unions" where?}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b8f77f16-d865-11e8-ab8e-6be0dcf18713 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/b8f77f16-d865-11e8-ab8e-6be0dcf18713 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Ryanair turns Polish pilots into precarious workers|work=Financial Times}} As a consequence, Ryanair Sun mainly operated scheduled flights on behalf of its mother company using Ryanair's FR flight numbers. Ryanair Sun was rebranded Buzz in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-sun-to-be-rebranded-as-buzz-in-autumn-2019/|title=Ryanair Sun To Be Rebranded As Buzz In Autumn 2019 {{!}} Ryanair's Corporate Website|date=14 March 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=26 April 2019}}

Also in 2018, Ryanair expanded its portfolio with Austrian-based Laudamotion, later renamed "Lauda". Laudamotion was the successor of Niki, which had folded as a consequence of the Air Berlin demise.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Oliver|date=14 December 2017|title=Thousands of travellers hit as Austria's second-largest airline ceases trading|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/niki-airline-ceases-trading/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/niki-airline-ceases-trading/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=7 October 2020|website=The Telegraph|language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}} The company was founded by Niki Lauda. Initially, Ryanair purchased a 25-per cent share in Laudamotion to increase the share to 75 per cent pending government approval. The deal was announced in March 2018 ahead of the carrier's launch in June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/ryanair-laudamotion-niki-lauda-1.3913547|title=Ryanair steigt bei Laudamotion ein|first=Süddeutsche|last=Zeitung|website=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=20 March 2018 }} After increasing its share to 75 per cent, Ryanair fully acquired the Austrian airline in December 2018.{{Cite news |date=29 January 2019 |title=Ryanair acquires remaining quarter of Austria's Laudamotion |work=Reuters |agency= |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-laudamotion-m-a-ryanair-hldgs-idUKKCN1PN10Y |access-date=19 December 2023}}

Ryanair UK was established in December 2017 in anticipation of Brexit. Its first aircraft, re-registered as G-RUKA, was transferred from Ryanair DAC in 2018, with a second aircraft following in 2019. As of April 2023, Ryanair UK has 13 aircraft.

On 23 August 2018, Ryanair announced a new baggage policy. Under this policy, Priority Boarding allows for a larger and a smaller bag, capped by the capacity on the airplane. The company claimed this reduces turnaround times and simplifies the baggage policy.{{cite web |date=23 August 2018 |title=NEW BAG POLICY FROM NOVEMBER WILL CUT CHECK BAG FEES & REDUCE BOARDING DELAYS |url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/new-bag-policy-from-november-will-cut-check-bag-fees-reduce-boarding-delays |website=Ryanair.com}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}} After this, many other low cost airlines introduced similar policies, for example Wizz Air.{{Cite web|url=https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/about-us/news/2018/10/10/wizz-air-introduces-new-customer-focused-baggage-policy-br-onboard-bag-guaranteed-for-all|title=WIZZ AIR INTRODUCES NEW CUSTOMER-FOCUSED BAGGAGE POLICY ONBOARD BAG GUARANTEED FOR ALL |website=WizzAir.com|date=2004 }}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}}

On 28 September 2018, pilots, cabin crew and other staff called for a strike due to the transition from workers being employed on Irish contracts and subject to Irish legislation to their own countries' labour laws, along with an issue in their pay. Due to the lobbying of the crew and walk-outs of pilots, the airline had to cancel 250 flights, which affected around 40,000 passengers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-strike-2018-latest-friday-september-live-cabin-crew-pilots-news-a8555561.html|title=Latest updates from Ryanair strike as 250 flights cancelled ahead of walkout|work=The Independent|access-date=28 September 2018|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-strike-latest-flights-cancelled-cabin-crew-spain-germany-portugal-dispute-a8558821.html|title=New Ryanair strike grounds hundreds of planes across Europe|work=The Independent|access-date=28 September 2018|language=en-GB}}

In early 2019, due to the transition inside the holdings company, each airline (Ryanair, LaudaMotion, Ryanair Sun and Ryanair UK) got its own CEO and management team. Edward Wilson became the CEO of the airline Ryanair and Michael O'Leary became the Group CEO.{{Cite web |title=Ryanair {{!}} Executive Officers |url=https://investor.ryanair.com/sustainability/governance/executive-officers/ |access-date=29 October 2023 |website=investor.ryanair.com |language=en-US}}

On 9 June 2019, Ryanair announced, together with the Government of Malta, that it would establish a new airline called Malta Air (not to be confused with Air Malta), to consist of an initial fleet of ten aircraft and assume the 61 flights currently operated by Ryanair from the island. The fleet was registered in Malta while a new repair and maintenance hangar was also set up.{{cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ryanair-to-set-up-a-new-airline-based-in-malta.712313|title=Ryanair to set up a new airline based in Malta|website=Times of Malta|date=9 June 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.aviator.aero/ryanair-to-establish-an-airline-in-malta/|title=Ryanair to establish an airline in Malta|date=9 June 2019|website=AVIATOR}} Ryanair transferred all its existing Maltese operations to the new airline and its fleet was expected to increase from the six Boeing 737-800 aircraft currently allocated to the Malta market to ten (all to be in Malta Air colours) by mid-2020.{{cite journal |title=Ryanair Snaps Up Malta Air |journal=Airliner World |volume=August 2019 |page=11}}

The carrier's CEO made comments at the A4E Aviation Summit in Brussels on 3 March 2020. Michael O'Leary said that he expected people to get 'bored' of the COVID-19 pandemic and saw a recovery by the summer of 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.aeronewsx.com/post/ryanair-ceo-people-will-get-bored-of-the-coronavirus|title=Ryanair CEO: 'People will get bored of the coronavirus'|date=4 March 2020|website=aeronewsx.com|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804015905/https://www.aeronewsx.com/post/ryanair-ceo-people-will-get-bored-of-the-coronavirus|url-status=dead}} That changed, with Ryanair announcing in a statement that it expected demand to return to 2019 levels by the summer of 2022.{{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Sam |date=1 May 2020 |title=Ryanair marks Labour Day with 3,000 job cuts |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/aviation/news/ryanair-marks-labour-day-with-3000-job-cuts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810114756/https://www.aeronewsx.com/post/ryanair-announces-3000-job-cuts-on-labour-day |archive-date=10 August 2020 |access-date=19 December 2023 |publisher=EURACTIV}}

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Ryanair. While the CEO, Michael O'Leary, remained adamant that state aid was not an option, the carrier announced several changes to its operations. This included the loss of 3000 jobs, announced on 1 May 2020, which affected mainly pilots and cabin crew. This came as the airline announced it would suspend the majority of its operations until June 2020. In July 2020, Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary announced that the company had made a net loss of €185 million in the period April–June 2020. In comparison, in the same period of 2019, the firm made a net profit of €243 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/395f4f18-2f8c-4322-8bcd-d7a12113fef8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/395f4f18-2f8c-4322-8bcd-d7a12113fef8 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title= Ryanair's O'Leary warns of more job losses in the event of deepening crisis |work=Financial Times|last=Stathon|first=Bethan|access-date=27 July 2020}} In September 2020, the airline threatened to leave Ireland due to COVID-19 restrictions.{{cite news|title=Ryanair threatens to leave Ireland unless government lifts travel restrictions|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-quarantine-travel-coronavirus-test-ireland-a9702931.html|access-date=6 September 2020|website=www.independent.co.uk|date=4 September 2020|language=en}} Despite their original plan, to fly 60% of the previous year's schedule, in October 2020, the company decided to reduce the number of flights between the period of November 2020 – March 2021 to 40%. According to O'Leary, this was a result of "government mismanagement of EU air travel" as the quarantine travel measures were loosened.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4f7be7e2-bcb0-45db-a54f-08715579a62c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/4f7be7e2-bcb0-45db-a54f-08715579a62c |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title= Ryanair scales back winter schedule as bookings fall|work=Financial Times|last=Georgiadis|first=Phillip|date=15 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020}} By the end of December 2020, the airline reported an 83% drop in annual passengers, from 2019.{{cite web|date=6 January 2021|title=Ryanair December Passenger Numbers Drop 83% Year-on-year – Travel Radar|url=https://travelradar.aero/ryanair-december-passenger-numbers-drop-83-year-on-year/|access-date=7 January 2021|website=Travel Radar – Aviation News|language=en-US}}

Starting in late March 2020, in response to flight cancellations due to travel restrictions set by governments due to COVID-19, Ryanair was forced to cancel flights. This resulted in many of their staff being placed on furlough, with pay being cut by up to 50% for some employees placed on the Irish Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/ryanair-tells-passengers-wont-cash-21912490|title=Ryanair tells passengers they won't get cash refunds until after coronavirus crisis|website=Daily Mirror|date=23 April 2020|access-date=25 April 2020}}

The handling of refunds from Ryanair caused a surge in complaints to the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR), with customers claiming that they have been refused a refund for the flight cancellation.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/surge-in-complaints-to-watchdog-over-airlines-refunds-delay-1.4237421|title=Surge in complaints to watchdog over airlines' refunds delay|newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=25 April 2020}} Many organisations have taken a stance against the aviation industry via actions or declarations in the press.{{cite web|title=Ryanair struggles on without state aid, but still well placed to fly high again |date=18 May 2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/ryanair-struggles-on-without-state-aid-but-still-well-placed-to-fly-high-again/a-53482392|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB|access-date=25 May 2020}} The Italian civil aviation authority ENAC threatened a ban of Ryanair due to alleged violation of local COVID-19 regulations.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.it/20200805/italian-aviation-authority-threatens-to-ban-ryanair-for-breaking-covid-19-rules|title=Italian aviation authority threatens to ban Ryanair for breaking Covid-19 rules|date=5 August 2020|access-date=5 August 2020}}

The Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said its planes would not fly if the airline was required to leave its middle seats empty to comply with in-flight social distancing rules.{{Cite web |date=24 April 2020 |title=A ban on middle seats? Not according to Ryanair! – Travel Radar |url=https://travelradar.aero/a-ban-on-middle-seats-not-according-to-ryanair/ |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=Travel Radar – Aviation News |language=en-GB}} He said blocking the space between seats was "idiotic" and would have no beneficial effect.{{cite web|title=Ryanair boss says airline won't fly with 'idiotic' social distancing rules|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/22/ryanair-boss-says-airline-wont-fly-with-idiotic-social-distancing-rules|date=22 April 2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=15 May 2020}}

In December 2020, Ryanair increased its order for Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft by 75, to a total of 210 aircraft, for delivery from early 2021 to December 2024.{{Cite web |last=Pallini |first=Thomas |title=Ryanair just placed a massive order for more Boeing 737 Max jets intended to cram as many passengers into a plane as possible |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ryanair-places-75-aircraft-order-for-boeing-737-max-2020-12 |access-date=9 October 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

Due to the persisting COVID-19 pandemic, Ryanair expected losses of between €800m and €850m in their fiscal year of 2021. Only 27.5 million passengers flew compared to 148.6 million passengers in the previous financial year. The full financial report was released on 17 May 2021.{{Cite news|last=Donnelly|first=Ellie|date=|title=Ryanair reduces loss expectations for 2021|work=Independent.ie|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ryanair-reduces-loss-expectations-for-2021-40283389.html|access-date=}} The company reported a record annual loss of $989 million.{{cite web|date=17 May 2021|title=Ryanair posts record annual loss, hopes to break even this year|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ryanair-posts-record-annual-loss-says-recovery-has-begun-2021-05-17/|access-date=17 May 2021|work=Reuters}}

In May 2023, Ryanair confirmed an order with Boeing to purchase 300 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, with a total list price of $40 billion (€36.3bn). The deal included 150 firm orders and options for 150 more, for delivery between 2027 and 2033. Half of this order would replace withdrawn 737-800s.{{Cite news |title=Ryanair orders 300 new Boeing 737 Max 10 jets worth more than €36bn |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/05/09/ryanair-orders-300-new-boeing-jets/ |access-date=9 October 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} The order followed an 18-month public argument with Boeing over pricing, and Ryanair ultimately achieved a lower discount than their previous orders.{{Cite news |last1=Insinna |first1=Valerie |last2=Halpin |first2=Padraic |last3=Hepher |first3=Tim |date=9 May 2023 |title=Ryanair places major Boeing order after jet price truce |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ryanair-set-order-jets-boeing-burying-hatchet-after-price-spat-2023-05-09/ |access-date=9 October 2023}}

While Ryanair had previously returned cash to shareholders via share buybacks and one-off distributions, they announced their first regular dividend in November 2023.{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Chris |date=6 November 2023 |title=Ryanair Is Making Too Much Money |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-11-06/ryanair-is-the-rare-airline-making-too-much-money |access-date=22 December 2023}}

In December 2023, Ryanair briefly became the most valuable airline in the world and the largest airline outside the US.{{Cite news |last=Donnelly |first=Ellie |date=15 December 2023 |title=Ryanair lands title of world's largest airline by market cap |work=Business Post |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/news/ryanair-lands-title-of-worlds-largest-airline-by-market-cap/ |access-date=22 December 2023}} In 2024, they were again the "largest player in the region".{{Cite web |title=As critics trash Boeing, the outspoken CEO of Ryanair emerges as an unlikely defender |url=https://fortune.com/2024/03/23/ryanair-ceo-michael-oleary-boeing-crash-defense/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Fortune |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=15 May 2023 |title=Ryanair is now largest airline outside the US |url=https://businessplus.ie/news/ryanair-largest-airline/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |language=en-GB}}

Ryanair announced a $1.4 billion investment in Morocco for its Summer 2024 schedule, its largest in the country, including over 1,100 weekly flights on 175 routes, with 35 new ones. This expansion features Ryanair's introduction of ultra-low fares on 11 domestic routes - a first in Africa, aiming to boost internal connectivity and traffic growth. The plan includes a new base in Tangier with two aircraft and first flights to Beni Mellal and Errachidia. The investment, expected to deliver over 5 million passengers, supports over 500 direct jobs and stimulates economic growth across 12 cities. Ryanair's CEO, Eddie Wilson, highlighted the partnership's role in enhancing tourism and connectivity with fares from MAD330 each way.{{Cite news |date=6 January 2024 |title=Ryanair invests US $ 1.4 billion in morocco for 2024/ |url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-invests-us1-4-billion-in-morocco-for-2024/ |access-date=22 December 2023}}

On 14 January 2025, it was reported that Ryanair will be introducing five new routes to Sarajevo. Beginning 31 March 2025, Ryanair will serve additional two routes between Paris and Karlsruhe to Sarajevo. Subsequently, a further three more routes to the Bosnia and Herzegovina capital will be introduced in early April 2025, to Stockholm, Weeze and Girona.{{Cite web |title=Ryanair Expands Sarajevo Network in NS25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250114-frns25sjj |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=AeroRoutes |language=en-CA}}

The key trends for the Ryanair Group are (as of the financial year ending 31 March):{{Cite web |title=Ryanair {{!}} Results Centre |url=https://investor.ryanair.com/results-centre/ |access-date=18 July 2024 |website=investor.ryanair.com}}{{Cite web |title=Ryanair Fundamentalanalyse {{!}} KGV {{!}} Kennzahlen |url=https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/Ryanair-Aktie/IE00BYTBXV33 |access-date=18 July 2024 |website=boerse.de |language=de}}

In 2023, the group had about 6,600 pilots and 13,400 cabin crew, 2,200 employees in administration, IT labs, ground operations and maintenance as well as 125 employees in the management.{{Cite web |title=Ryanair: employment figures by type 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1038876/ryanair-employement-figures-by-type/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=Statista |language=en}}

File:Ryanair logo.svg

File:Ryanair logo 2013(1).svg

The head office of Ryanair has been in the Airside Business Park in Swords, County Dublin, Ireland, since 2014."[http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/contacting-customer-service/ Contact Us]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20141101180705/http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/contacting-customer-service/ Archive]). Ryanair. Retrieved on 31 October 2014. Under "Registered Address and VAT No." = "Ryanair Ltd. Corporate Head Office Airside Business Park Swords Co. Dublin Ireland" David Daly, a developer, had built the facility before Ryanair's 2012 purchase.Mulligan, John. "[http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ryanair-staff-moving-to-new-20m-hq-29070619.html Ryanair staff moving to new €20m HQ]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20141031115502/http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ryanair-staff-moving-to-new-20m-hq-29070619.html Archive]). Irish Independent. 15 February 2013. Retrieved on 31 October 2014. The building has {{convert|100000|sqft|sqm}} of space,Post Reporter. "[http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/News/Ryanair+to+move+main+Dublin+office+to+Swords/id/19410615-5218-511c-fc50-3610a4574893 Ryanair to move main Dublin office to Swords]." Business Post. 14 February 2013. Retrieved on 31 October 2014. and the airline paid €11 million to occupy the building. According to John Mulligan of the Irish Independent, it was thought that Ryanair would refurbish the building for another €9 million. Previously, since 2004, the head office had been on the property of Dublin Airport, in proximity to the Aer Lingus head office.Lavery, Brian. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/02/business/worldbusiness/02iht-wbspot2_ed3_.html Spotlight: Aer Lingus chief's survival guide]." The New York Times. Saturday 2 October 2004. Retrieved 29 February 2010. Darley Investments built the facility in 1992. Ryanair later purchased Darley and had a 30-year lease of the head office facility from the Department of Transport of Ireland. The company negotiated to pay no rent for 12 years, then €122,000/year until 2008, then €244,000/year for the remainder of the lease.

Ryanair faced criticism for allegedly forcing pilots to pay tens of thousands of Euros for training, then establishing limited companies in Ireland to have the pilots work for Ryanair through an agency,Mirror.co.uk [http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/10/guess-which-airline-cuts-costs.html Guess which airline cuts costs by hiring freelance pilots?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923210837/http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/10/guess-which-airline-cuts-costs.html |date=23 September 2012}} article. Retrieved 18 September 2012. as well as forcing ground staff in Spain to open bank accounts in Gibraltar in which to receive their wages.{{Cite news |last=Couzens |first=Gerard |date=8 February 2012 |title=Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary protected by police after protest from sacked rival airline staff |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/ryanair-boss-michael-oleary-protected-by-police-after-protest-from-sacked-rival-airline-staff/26819375.html |access-date=19 December 2023}}

In May 2014, Ryanair's office in Marseille was raided by French police investigating complaints that the company was failing to follow French employment law. Ryanair protested about the raid.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/may/23/ryanair-formal-complaint-french-police-raid-marseilles-offices |title=Ryanair lodges formal complaint after French police raid Marseilles offices |last1=Oltermann |first1=Philip |last2=Willsher |first2=Kim |date=23 May 2014 |work=The Guardian |access-date=23 May 2014}}

In May 2015, the Mayor of Copenhagen announced a boycott of Ryanair. This came in the wake of protests from Danish unions regarding employment conditions.{{cite news |title=Frank Jensen: Ansatte i København benytter ikke Ryanair |url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Penge/2015/05/16/0516210113.htm |access-date=17 June 2015 |work=DR |date=16 May 2015}} After a court trial confirmed the unions' right to strike, Ryanair moved its bases out of Denmark.{{cite web |last=Crouch |first=David |date=17 July 2015 |title=Ryanair closes Denmark operation to head off union row {{!}} Ryanair |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/17/ryanair-closes-denmark-operation-temporarily-to-sidestep-union-dispute |work=The Guardian}}

On 10 August 2018, pilots of Ryanair in Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands walked out for 24 hours, leaving 400 flights cancelled.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45139077|title=Ryanair strike: One in six flights cancelled in pilot walkout|access-date=10 August 2018}} It is considered{{by whom|date=November 2018}} to be one of the biggest strikes over pay issues.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

On 26 September 2018, Ryanair was forced to cancel 150 flights scheduled for that day, accounting for roughly 6% of its total flights, due to strikes in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, and Germany. The British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) urged the company to compensate the 2,400 affected passengers under EU Regulation 261, but Ryanair stated that it would refuse to accept any claims for compensation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45657200|title=Ryanair urged to compensate passengers|date=26 September 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=27 September 2018|language=en-GB}} In December 2018, the Civil Aviation Authority announced that it would be taking legal action against Ryanair over its refusal to compensate thousands of UK-based customers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46451702|title=Ryanair customer claims to go to court|date=5 December 2018|language=en-GB}} In April 2021, the High Court rejected Ryanair's claim that it was exempt from awarding compensation because the disruption was due to "extraordinary circumstances". The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal in February 2022, though Ryanair may still appeal to the Supreme Court.{{cite news |date=2 February 2022 |first=Simon |last=Calder| title=Ryanair must compensate passengers grounded by 2018 pilots strike, court rules |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-pilots-strike-2018-passenger-compensation-b2006100.html |access-date=21 March 2022 |website=The Independent}}

In the early years, when Ryanair had a total of 450 employees who each had shares in the company, there was an agreement that staff would not join a labour union on the basis that they would influence how the company was run.{{cite web |url=http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100965480 |author1=Bamber, G.J. |author2=Gittell, J.H. |author3=Kochan, T.A. |author4=von Nordenflytch, A. |name-list-style=amp |year=2009 |title=Up in the Air: How Airlines Can Improve Performance by Engaging their Employees, chapter 5 |publisher=Cornell University Press, Ithaca}} The treatment of employees has changed considerably since then and new employees no longer get shares in the company. While Ryanair announced in December 2017 that it would recognise pilots' unions, the company still refuses to recognise or negotiate with any union for cabin crew.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

In 2011, a former Ryanair captain was awarded financial compensation by an employment tribunal in London after being fired for handing out a union form to a cabin crew member while on duty.{{Cite news |last=Investigates |first=Sommerlad |last2= |first2= |date=23 March 2011 |title=Ryanair pilot sacked for handing our union form wins compensation |work=Mirror Online |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/opinion/money-opinion/p-s-investigates/ryanair-pilot-sacked-for-handing-our-union-282625 |access-date=19 December 2023}}

In 2012, the Ryanair Pilot Group (RPG) was formed, but to date{{when|date=May 2024}} has not been successful in its aim to represent the pilots flying for Ryanair as a collective bargaining unit.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Thousands of flight cancellations on 15 September 2017 triggered pilots to mobilise, and on 15 December, in Italy, Ireland, and Portugal, O‘Leary recognised unions for the first time, blaming their good timing; he anticipated an uptick in labour costs in 2018, not altering its model.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ryanair-pilots-insight/three-months-that-shook-ryanair-how-cancellations-sparked-a-pilot-revolt-idUSKBN1EE2D1 |date=20 December 2017 |title=Three months that shook Ryanair: How cancellations sparked a pilot revolt |first=Conor |last=Humphries |work=Reuters}} Ryanair discussed union recognition in response to threatened strikes over the Christmas period.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-to-recognise-pilot-unions-to-avert-strike-action-1.3328444 |title=Ryanair strike threat remains as unions seek clarification: Company jettisons long-standing policy and says it will negotiate with pilots' groups |date=15 December 2017 |author1=Barry O'Halloran|author2=Eoin Burke-Kennedy |newspaper=The Irish Times}}

Twenty per cent of Ryanair's revenue is generated from ancillary revenue; that is, income from sources other than ticket fares. In 2009, ancillary revenue was at €598 million, compared to total revenue of €2,942 million.{{cite web |date=3 June 2009 |title=Ryanair's ancillary revenues grow to €598m |url=https://www.eyefortravel.com/revenue-and-data-management/ryanair%E2%80%99s-ancillary-revenues-grow-%E2%82%AC598m |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614235208/http://www.m-travel.com/news/2009/06/ryanairs-ancillary-revenues-grow-to-598m.html |archive-date=14 June 2009 |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=eyefortravel.com |publisher=Reuters Events}}

Ryanair has been described by the consumer magazine Holiday Which? as being the worst offender for charging for optional extras.{{cite web |author= |date=8 January 2008 |title=Ryanair the 'worst offender' for extra charges on fares |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ryanair-the-worst-offender-for-extra-charges-on-fares/28431355.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080409094323/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/article3318742.ece |archive-date=9 April 2008 |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=Belfast Telegraph}} As part of the low-cost business model, the airline charges fees, which can be related to alternative services such as using airport check-in facilities instead of the online service fee and paying by credit card. It also charges for extra services like checked-in luggage, and it offers food and drinks for purchase as part of a buy on board programme.{{Cite news |title=What snacks, drinks & meals will be available on board? |work=Ryanair Help Centre |url=https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/articles/12890798633873-What-snacks-drinks-meals-will-be-available-on-board- |url-status=live |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114201406/http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=inf&quest=snacks |archive-date=14 November 2008}}

In 2009, Ryanair abolished airport check-in and replaced it with a fast bag drop for those passengers checking in bags.{{cite web |last= |first= |date=28 January 2021 |title=Ryanair Cancellation Policy |url=https://airlinespolicy.com/cancellation-policy/ryanair-cancellation-policy/ |access-date=20 December 2023}} The option of checking in at the airport for €10 has been discontinued, and all passengers are required to check-in online and print their boarding pass. Passengers arriving at the airport without a pre-printed online check-in will have to pay €55/£45 for their boarding pass to be re-issued, while customers unable to check-in luggage online are asked to pay a fee which varies depending on where they are travelling to at the airport (as of June 2012). Ryanair faced criticism over the ambiguous nature of these changes.{{Cite news |last=Bachelor |first=Lisa |date=14 May 2009 |title=Ryanair scraps airport check-in {{!}} Consumer affairs |work=The Guardian |url=http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=may&story=gen-en-130509 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605004740/http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=may&story=gen-en-130509 |access-date=20 December 2023|archive-date=5 June 2009 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5757047/Ryanair-to-improve-clarity-over-hidden-charges.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5757047/Ryanair-to-improve-clarity-over-hidden-charges.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=Ryanair to improve clarity over 'hidden charges' |first=Oliver |last=Smith |date=6 July 2009}}{{cbignore}}

In February 2011, a Ryanair passenger, Miro Garcia, brought a claim against Ryanair for unfair surcharges, claiming that the €40 (£30) surcharge on passengers who failed to print out a boarding card before arrival at the airport was unfair. Judge Barbara Cordoba, sitting in the Commercial Court in Barcelona, held that, under international air travel conventions, Ryanair can neither demand passengers turn up at the airport with their boarding pass, nor charge them €40 (£30) if they do not, and that the fines were abusive because aviation law obliges airlines to issue boarding passes. Judge Cordoba stated: "I declare abusively and, therefore, null, the clause in the contract by which Ryanair obliges the passenger to take a boarding pass to the airport. ... the customary practice over the years has been that the obligation to provide the boarding pass has always fallen on the airline". The judge ordered a refund for Mr Garcia and said the fact the company was a low-cost carrier did "not allow it to alter its basic contractual obligations".{{cite news|first=Giles |last=Tremlett |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/14/ryanair-spanish-court-boarding-pass |title=Judge tells Ryanair that forcing passengers to print boarding passes is illegal |work=The Guardian |date=14 January 2011|access-date=30 September 2012 |location=London}} Ryanair appealed the decision and the Appeals Court in Spain overturned the ruling in November 2011, holding that the surcharge complies with international law.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/spanish-appeal-court-rules-ryanair-s-boarding-card-reissue-fee-legal |title=Spanish Appeal Court Rules Ryanair's Boarding Card Reissue Fee... |publisher=Ryanair.com |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=30 September 2012}}

In December 2011, Ryanair announced that it would fight against the UK Treasury's plan to ban what Which? magazine called "rip-off" charges made when customers paid by credit card.{{cite web |date=24 December 2011 |title=Ryanair ready for the fight to keep 'excessive' card charges |url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/ryanair-ready-for-the-fight-to-keep-excessive-card-charges-1649733 |access-date=25 December 2011 |work=The Scotsman}} EU legislation has already been drafted against surcharges for methods of payment.{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20110622IPR22326/html/Consumer-Rights-Parliament-approves-new-EU-wide-rules-for-on-line-shopping |title=Consumer Rights: Parliament approves new EU-wide rules for on-line shopping |date=23 June 2011 |publisher=European Parliament |access-date=13 August 2012}}

New Ryanair aircraft have been delivered with non-reclining seats, no seat-back pockets, safety cards stuck on the back of the seats, and life jackets stowed overhead rather than under the seat. This allows the airline to save on aircraft costs and enables faster cleaning and security checks during short turnaround times.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3489761.stm|title=Ryanair 'to cut frills further'|date=15 February 2004|work=BBC News |access-date=9 June 2009}} Ryanair reportedly wanted to order its aircraft without window shades, but the new aircraft do have them, as it is required by the regulations of the Irish Aviation Authority.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

Other proposed measures to reduce frills further have included eliminating two toilets to add six more seats,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/5431689/Ryanairs-lose-loos-strategy-typifies-its-win-win-focus-on-low-fares.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/5431689/Ryanairs-lose-loos-strategy-typifies-its-win-win-focus-on-low-fares.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=Ryanair's 'lose loos' strategy typifies its win, win focus on low fares |first=Alistair |last=Osborne |date=2 June 2009}}{{cbignore}} redesigning the aircraft to allow standing passengers travelling in "vertical seats", charging passengers for using the toilet,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5753477/Ryanair-to-make-passengers-stand.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5753477/Ryanair-to-make-passengers-stand.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=Ryanair to make passengers stand |first=Ben |last=Leach |date=6 July 2009}}{{cbignore}} charging extra for overweight passengers,[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5199997/Ryanair-considers-fat-tax-for-obese-air-passengers.html Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers], The Daily Telegraph, 22 April 2009 and asking passengers to carry their checked-in luggage to the aircraft.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5430226/Passengers-may-have-to-load-their-own-bags-onto-Ryanair-flights.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5430226/Passengers-may-have-to-load-their-own-bags-onto-Ryanair-flights.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=Passengers may have to load their own bags onto Ryanair flights |first=David |last=Millward |date=3 June 2009}}{{cbignore}} While CEO Michael O'Leary initially claimed that charging passengers for toilets was "going to happen", he stated days later that it was "technically impossible and legally difficult" but "[made] for interesting and very cheap PR".{{cite news |last1=McGreevy |first1=Ronan |title=Charging for toilets PR stunt, says Ryanair boss |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/charging-for-toilets-pr-stunt-says-ryanair-boss-1.716921 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=23 April 2019 |date=7 March 2009}}

Ryanair has been criticised for many aspects of its customer service. The Economist wrote that Ryanair's "cavalier treatment of passengers" had given Ryanair "a deserved reputation for nastiness" and that the airline "has become a byword for appalling customer service ... and jeering rudeness towards anyone or anything that gets in its way."{{cite news |title=Snarling to the bank |url=http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9681074 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613 |date=23 August 2007 |access-date=13 April 2008}} {{Subscription required}} In January 2019, a survey conducted by Which? found that the airline was the UK's least-liked short-haul airline, for the sixth year running.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46761330|title=Ryanair named 'worst short-haul airline'|date=5 January 2019|agency=BBC News|access-date=5 January 2019|language=en-GB}} Ryanair responded by saying that passenger numbers had risen 80% in the previous six years and this was a more accurate reflection of the airline's popularity than an "unrepresentative survey of just 8,000 people".{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46761330 |title=Ryanair named 'worst short-haul airline'|date=5 January 2019 |agency=BBC News |access-date=5 January 2019}} In August 2019, Ryanair came bottom in an annual Which? survey rating the customer services of 100 popular UK brands.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49433807|title=Ryanair rated 'greedy and arrogant' by customers|date=23 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019|language=en-GB|agency=BBC News}}

In 2002, the High Court of Ireland in Dublin awarded Jane O'Keefe €67,500 damages and her costs after Ryanair reneged on a free travel prize she was awarded for being the airline's 1 millionth passenger.{{Cite news |date=19 June 2002 |title=RTÉ News: Damages awarded to Ryanair passenger |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0619/26823-ryanair/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108184941/http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0619/ryanair.html |archive-date=8 January 2009}}{{Cite news |last=Sage |first=Mark |date=20 June 2002 |title=Ryanair ordered to pay damages for reneging on 'free flights' offer to millionth customer |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ryanair-ordered-to-pay-damages-for-reneging-on-free-flights-offer-to-millionth-customer-180852.html |access-date=19 December 2023}}

The airline has come under heavy criticism for its poor treatment of disabled passengers. In 2002, it refused to provide wheelchairs for disabled passengers at London Stansted Airport, greatly angering disabled rights groups.{{cite news |title=Appeal Court rules airport and airline jointly responsible for disabled passengers |date=21 December 2004 |author=Disability Rights Commission |url=http://www.drc-gb.org/newsroom/newsdetails.asp?print=true&id=773§ion=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224022240/http://www.drc-gb.org/newsroom/newsdetails.asp?print=true&id=773§ion=1 |archive-date=24 December 2004 |url-status=usurped |access-date=18 December 2006}} The airline argued that this provision was the responsibility of the airport authority, stating that wheelchairs were provided by 80 of the 84 Ryanair destination airports,{{cite web |date=30 January 2004 |title=Disabled man wins case against Ryanair |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/jan/30/theairlineindustry.money |access-date=20 December 2023 |work=The Guardian}} at that time. A court ruling in 2004 judged that the responsibility should be shared by the airline and the airport owners;{{Cite news |author=Adams-Spink, Geoff |title=Wheelchair users' rights upheld|date=21 December 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4112791.stm |access-date=18 December 2006 |publisher=BBC}} Ryanair responded by adding a surcharge of £0.50 to all its flight prices.{{cite news |last1=Marston |first1=Paul |title=Ryanair adds 50p levy after losing wheelchair battle |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1453112/Ryanair-adds-50p-levy-after-losing-wheelchair-battle.html |access-date=5 January 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=31 January 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118194524/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1453112/Ryanair-adds-50p-levy-after-losing-wheelchair-battle.html |archive-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=live}} In July 2012, a 69-year-old woman, Frances Duff, who has a colostomy, was refused permission to bring her medical kit on board, despite having a letter from her doctor explaining the need for her to carry this with her, and was asked by Ryanair boarding staff to lift her shirt in front of fellow passengers, to prove that she had a colostomy bag. Duff had previously attempted to contact Ryanair on three occasions to inquire about its policy regarding travellers' colostomy bags, but each time no one answered the phone after half an hour.[http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-refuses-apologise-tohumiliated-woman-colostomy-bag-527936-Jul2012/ 69-year-old woman "humiliated" by Ryanair over colostomy bag ordeal] TheJournal.ie, 20 July 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013 On 4 April 2011, Ryanair began adding a surcharge of €2 to its flights to cover the costs arising from compliance with EC Regulation 261/2004, which requires it to pay for meals and accommodation for passengers on delayed and cancelled flights.{{cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=30 March 2011 |title=Ryanair adds €2 levy to cover EU rules on compensation |work=The Guardian |publisher= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/mar/30/ryanair-levy-compensation-eu261 |url-status=live |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223144827/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0330/ryanair.html |archive-date=23 December 2011}}

Ryanair did not offer customers the possibility of contacting it by email or webform, only through a premium rate phone line, by fax or by post; however, it does now have a web form contact option and a live chat. An early day motion in the British Parliament put forward in 2006 criticised Ryanair for this reason and called on the company to provide customers with a means to contact the company by email.{{cite web |title=RYANAIR COMPLAINTS MECHANISM |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/31232/ryanair-complaints-mechanism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126193822/http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=31232&SESSION=875 |archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=20 December 2023 |publisher=UK Parliament}} Ryanair offers a basic rate telephone number for post-booking enquiries in the United Kingdom, which chose to omit the exemption for passenger transport services when enacting Article 21 of Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights under Regulation 41 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Payments) Regulations 2013.{{cite web|title=Where are you calling from?|url=https://www.ryanair.com/ie/questions/where-are-you-calling-from/|website=Ryanair}}

On 17 June 2014, Ryanair announced a new campaign to re-invent itself as a more family-friendly airline. Speaking at the company's 2014 AGM, chief executive Michael O'Leary said that the airline needed to "stop unnecessarily pissing people off". Ryanair said up to 20% of its 81 million customers were travelling as families, and it wanted to raise that figure. Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair's chief marketing officer, said: "Families are a big deal for us. It's a group of customers that we want to get closer to".{{cite news |last=Burke-Kennedy |first=Eoin |date=17 June 2014 |title=Ryanair Woos Families |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-woos-families-in-bid-to-shed-more-abrasive-image-1.1835411 |url-status=live |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707104839/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-woos-families-in-bid-to-shed-more-abrasive-image-1.1835411 |archive-date=7 July 2014}} As another step, the company launched LiveChat on its website to improve the quality of service and experience provided by the company.{{cite web|url=https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/useful-info/help-centre/faq-overview/contact-us/Ryanair-live-chat-service|title=Ryanair live chat service?|publisher=Ryanair|access-date=26 August 2016}} This change in their approach had an almost immediate positive effect on the company's finances.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/02/ryanair-credits-being-pleasant-to-customers-for-profits-rise|title=Ryanair credits 'being pleasant to customers' for profits rise|work=The Guardian|first=Sean|last=Farrell|date=2 November 2015}}

In June 2022, Ryanair faced severe anger and backlash for making South Africans take a general knowledge test in the Afrikaans language before allowing them to board UK-bound flights as a means to verify that their passports were genuine. South Africa has 11 official languages of which Afrikaans is the 3rd most spoken with a prevalence of 12%. A majority of the population cannot understand Afrikaans and some refuse to speak it on principle, regarding it as the language of oppression during the Apartheid era.{{Cite news |date=6 June 2022 |title=Ryanair Afrikaans test: South African fury over language quiz |language=en-GB |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61703174 |access-date=6 June 2022}} Michael O'Leary subsequently announced that the test was being dropped following outrage in South Africa.{{cite news |title=Ryanair Afrikaans test: Airline drops controversial South African quiz |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61804803 |agency=BBC News |date=14 June 2022}}{{Cite web |author=Tamara Hardingham-Gill |title=Ryanair abandons controversial Afrikaans test for South African travellers |date=15 June 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ryanair-drops-controversial-test-for-south-african-travelers/index.html |access-date=16 June 2022 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}

File:EI-DLM with "Bye Bye Latehansa" slogan at Gerona Costa Brava Airport.jpg displaying "bye bye Latehansa" titles referring to German competitor Lufthansa in 2008]]

Ryanair's advertising and the antics of Michael O'Leary, such as deliberately courting controversy to generate free publicity for the airline,[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/073c8d40-e9ca-11de-ae43-00144feab49a.html / Columnists / Lunch with the FT – Lunch with the FT: Michael O’Leary]. Financial Times. (18 December 2009). Retrieved 9 December 2010. have led to several complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and occasionally court action being taken against the airline.{{cite web|url=http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=49 |title=brandchannel.com | Irish Airlines| brands | branding news |publisher=Brandchannel.com |access-date=31 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107011422/http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=49 |archive-date=7 January 2009}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3456423.stm |access-date=18 December 2006 |agency=BBC News |title=Ryanair advert dubbed 'offensive' |date=4 February 2004}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6946702.stm |title=New Ryanair Army advert 'crass'|access-date=31 October 2008 |agency=BBC News |date=14 August 2007}}{{cite news |last= |first= |date=5 February 2008 |title=Sarkozy, Bruni win damages over Ryanair ad |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-ryanair-damages-idUSPAB00384520080205/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213065223/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/06/wbruni106.xml |archive-date=13 February 2008}}

An example of this was the live BBC News interview on 27 February 2009 when Michael O'Leary, observing that it was "a quiet news day," commented that Ryanair was considering charging passengers £1 to use the toilet on its flights. The story subsequently made headlines in the media for several days and drew attention to Ryanair's announcement that it was removing check-in desks from airports and replacing them with online check-in. Eight days later O'Leary eventually admitted that it was a publicity stunt saying "It is not likely to happen, but it makes for interesting and very cheap PR."{{Cite news |last=McGreevy |first=Ronan |date=7 March 2009 |title=Charging for toilets PR stunt, says Ryanair boss |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/charging-for-toilets-pr-stunt-says-ryanair-boss-1.716921 |url-status=live |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022212343/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0307/1224242448956.html |archive-date=22 October 2012}} The concept of Ryanair charging for even this most essential of customer services was foreseen by the spoof news website "The Mardale Times" some five months previously, in its article "Ryanair announce new 'Pay-Per-Poo' service."{{Cite news |date=5 March 2009 |title=Ryanair toilet charge is no joke, insists O'Leary {{!}} Ryanair |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/mar/05/ryanair-toilet-charge |url-status=live |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329080455/http://www.mardaletimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=1 |archive-date=29 March 2009}}

Ryanair often uses advertising to make direct comparisons and attack its competitors. One of its advertisements used a picture of Manneken Pis, a famous Belgian statue of a urinating child, with the words: "Pissed off with Sabena's high fares? Low fares have arrived in Belgium." Sabena sued and the court ruled that the advertisements were misleading and offensive. Ryanair was ordered to discontinue the advertisements immediately or face fines. Ryanair was also obliged to publish an apology and publish the court decision on its website. Ryanair used the apologies for further advertising, primarily for further price comparisons.

Another provocative ad campaign headlined "Expensive BAstards!" compared Ryanair with British Airways. As with Sabena, British Airways disagreed with the accompanying price comparisons and brought legal action against Ryanair. However, in this case, the High Court sided with Ryanair and threw BA's case out, ordering BA to make a payment towards Ryanair's court costs. The judge ruled "The complaint amounts to this: that Ryanair exaggerated in suggesting BA is five times more expensive because BA is only three times more expensive."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/06/transport.world2 |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Ryanair on a victory roll as judge swears advert attacking BA is honest and fair |first=Simon |last=Bowers |date=6 December 2000}}

In 2007, Ryanair used an advertisement for its new Belfast route which showed Sinn Féin politicians Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams next to a speech bubble which said "Ryanair fares are so low even the British Army flew home".[https://www.flickr.com/photos/hellsbells/1108458911/ Ryanair fares are so low even the British army flew home]. flickr.com (31 August 2007). Retrieved 3 December 2014.{{cite web |last=Moulton |first=Emily |date=14 August 2007 |title=Ryanair ad 'scraping the barrel': MLA |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ryanair-ad-scraping-the-barrel-mla/28060929.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313013131/http://www.larryni.me.uk/blog/2007/08/14/first-reaction-to-crass-and-offensive-ryanair-ad-coming-in/ |archive-date=13 March 2008 |access-date=21 December 2023 |publisher=Belfast Telegraph}}[http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2007/1231/ireland/budget-advertising-how-ryanair-does-it-on-the-fly-51473.html Irish Examiner – 2007/12/31: Budget advertising: How Ryanair does it on the fly]. irishexaminer.com (31 December 2007). Retrieved 3 December 2014. Ulster Unionists reacted angrily to the advertisement, while the Advertising Standards Authority said it did not believe the ad would cause widespread offence.[http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/764967/Ryanair-escapes-censure-Sinn-Fein-Army-gag/ Ryanair escapes censure over Sinn Féin Army gag – Brand Republic News]. Brand Republic. (7 November 2007). Retrieved 9 December 2010.

An advertisement depicting a model dressed as a schoolgirl was accompanied by the words "Hottest back to school fares". Ryanair advertised two Scottish and one UK-wide newspaper. After receiving 13 complaints, the advertisement was widely reported by national newspapers. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) instructed the airline to withdraw the advertisement in the United Kingdom, saying that it "appeared to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour and was irresponsible and likely to cause serious or widespread offence". Ryanair said that it would "not be withdrawing this ad" and would "not provide the ASA with any of the undertakings they seek", on the basis that it found it absurd that "a picture of a fully clothed model is now claimed to cause 'serious or widespread offence' when many of the UK's leading daily newspapers regularly run pictures of topless or partially dressed females without causing any serious or widespread offence".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7216926.stm |agency=BBC News |title=Ryanair schoolgirl ad criticised |date=30 January 2008}}

In late 2020, the airline faced criticism over its "jab and go" advert.{{cite news|date=25 January 2021|title=Ryanair Forced to Pull Controversial 'Jab and Go' Ad Campaign|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-jab-and-go-advert-campaign-removed-asa-b1792142.html|website=The Independent}}

From 2008 to 2014 Ryanair published a charity calendar using female cabin crew as models,{{Cite news|last=McTeirnan|first=Anthea|title=Final destination for Ryanair's Calendar girls|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/final-destination-for-ryanair-s-calendar-girls-1.1949744|access-date=7 December 2021|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} raising money for homeless charity Dublin Simon Community in 2009,{{Cite news|date=12 November 2008|title=Just four Irish apply for 'Girls of Ryanair' calendar|language=en-GB|work=Belfast Telegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/just-four-irish-apply-for-girls-of-ryanair-calendar-28502976.html|access-date=7 December 2021|issn=0307-1235}} KIDS[http://www.kids.org.uk/information/103768/ryanair_charity_calendar/ KIDS selected to be the beneficiary of Ryanair's 2010 Charity Calendar!] (a charity for disabled children and their families) in 2010, and the Teenage Cancer Trust in 2014.[http://lucire.com/insider/20091113/has-ryanair-pushed-its-2010-calendar-too-far/ Has Ryanair pushed its 2010 calendar too far?][http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/news/ryanair-2010-sexy-calendar-causes-controversy/story-fn32891l-1225796802882 Ryanair 2010 sexy calendar causes controversy][http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2009/11/13/ryanair-stewardess-sexy-calendar/who-said-budget-airlines-meant-no-frills-flying.html Sexy Ryanair charity stewardess calendar Who said budget airlines meant no frills flying?] "Out of Ryanair's 4,000 cabin crew, 800 auditioned for the calendar. The photos were shot in the Spanish city of Alicante." It was strongly criticised by the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI).(Norwegian) [http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/11/15/nyheter/utenriks/ryanair/9051819/ Ryanair hisser på seg kvinnegruppe] in Dagbladet and an advertising campaign for it was prohibited by Spain following complaints.{{Cite web|date=11 December 2013|title=Girls of Ryanair calendar campaign censured in Spain|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/11/girls-of-ryanair-calendar-spain-court|access-date=7 December 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=11 December 2013|title='Sexist' Ryanair calendar ads too racy for Spain|url=https://www.thelocal.es/20131211/ryanair-calendar-too-racy-for-spain/|access-date=7 December 2021|website=The Local Spain|language=en-US}}

In 2018, Ryanair became the first airline and the only non-coal-power plant to be among the 10 companies with the highest amount of CO₂ emissions in the EU. That year, Ryanair had an emission equivalent of 9.9 megatonnes of CO₂. Emissions had risen by 49% over five years. Environmentalists criticized the airline harshly and saw it as a sign of the lack of taxation of aviation.{{Cite news|last=Neslen|first=Arthur|date=1 April 2019|title='Ryanair is the new coal': airline enters EU's top 10 emitters list|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/01/ryanair-new-coal-airline-enters-eu-top-10-emitters-list|access-date=4 April 2019|issn=0261-3077}} In 2020, Ryanair was criticised for releasing misleading advertisements through their claim they were "Europe's… Lowest Emissions Airline", using figures from an airline efficiency rating dating back to 2011.{{Cite news|last=Hotten|first=Russell|date=5 February 2020|title=Ryanair rapped over low emissions claims|agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51372780|access-date=17 April 2021}}

Although it usually does not serve the primary airports of major European cities, Ryanair has been criticised for placing the names of famous cities on distant secondary airports that were not built for tourist traffic and lacked transit links to the main city. Examples include "Paris Beauvais" ({{cvt|85|km}} north-northwest of Paris), "Brussels South" ({{cvt|46|km}} to the south of Brussels), "Milan Bergamo" ({{cvt|45|km}} from Milan), "Frankfurt Hahn" ({{cvt|102|km}} from Frankfurt and actually closer to the cities of Koblenz and Mainz), "Düsseldorf Weeze" ({{cvt|83|km}} from Düsseldorf and closer to Arnhem or Essen), "Glasgow Prestwick" ({{cvt|55|km}} from Glasgow), "Stockholm Skavsta" ({{cvt|84|km}} from Stockholm) and "Barcelona Reus" ({{cvt|88|km}} from Barcelona). Frommers has dubbed Ryanair the "ultimate bait-and-switch airline" for this deceptive practice.{{cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/?p=3&group=786&cat_cd=AIRFARE#slide |title="Paris" Beauvais Airport, France – The 10 Worst Airport Terminals Slideshow at Frommer's |publisher=Frommers.com |access-date=15 September 2012 |archive-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918070444/http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/?p=3&group=786&cat_cd=AIRFARE#slide |url-status=dead }}

Ryanair was ordered by the ASA to stop claiming that its flights from London to Brussels were faster than the rail connection Eurostar, because the claim was misleading, due to the required travel times to the airports mentioned. Ryanair stood by its claims, noting that the flight time is shorter than the train trip and that travel time is also required to reach Eurostar's stations.{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/not+so+fast+ryanair/704647#fold |title=Channel 4 – News – Not so fast, Ryanair |publisher=Channel 4 |access-date=31 October 2008 |archive-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223002240/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/not+so+fast+ryanair/704647#fold |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6957882.stm |access-date=31 October 2008 |agency=BBC News |title=Ryanair's Eurostar claim banned |date=21 August 2007}}

In April 2008, Ryanair faced a probe by the UK Office of Fair Trading, after a string of complaints about its adverts. It was found to have breached advertising rules seven times in two years. ASA's director general Christopher Graham commented that formal referrals to the OFT were rare, the last occurring in 2005. He added that the ASA "would prefer to work with advertisers within the self-regulatory system rather than call in a statutory body, but Ryanair's approach has left us with no option". Ryanair countered with the claim that the ASA had "demonstrated a repeated lack of independence, impartiality and fairness".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7337165.stm |agency=BBC News |title=Ryanair faces probe over adverts |date=9 April 2008}}

In July 2009, Ryanair took several steps to "increase the clarity and transparency of its website and other advertising" after reaching an agreement with the OFT. The airline's website now includes a statement that "fares don't include optional fees/charges" and they now include a table of fees to make fare comparisons easier.{{cite web |last1=Barty |first1=Susan |last2=Carr |first2=Susie |date=10 July 2009 |title=OFT Publishes The Results Of Its Investigation Into Ryanair´s Advertising Practices |url=https://www.mondaq.com/uk/advertising-marketing--branding/82700/oft-publishes-the-results-of-its-investigation-into-ryanair%C2%B4s-advertising-practices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017191202/http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2009/07/07/31377/oft-welcomes-ryanair-compliance-with-fare-rules.html |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=21 December 2023 |publisher=Mondaq}}

In July 2010, Ryanair once again found itself in controversy regarding alleged misleading advertising. Ryanair circulated advertisements in two newspapers offering £10 one-way fares to European destinations. Following a complaint from rival carrier EasyJet, the ASA ruled the offer was "likely to mislead".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10626652 |work=BBC News |date=14 July 2010 |title=Ryanair reprimanded for 'misleading' advertisements |access-date=30 August 2010}} Ryanair did not comment on the claim but did hit back at EasyJet, claiming it cared about details in this regard but did not itself publicise its on-time statistics. EasyJet denied this.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In April 2011, Ryanair advertised a place in the sun destinations but the advert was banned when it was found that some of the destinations experienced sunshine for as little as three hours per day and temperatures between {{convert|0|and|14|C}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13208353 |title=Ryanair's bikini advert banned by ASA |publisher=BBC |date=27 April 2011 |access-date=25 December 2011}}

In 2016, Ryanair stated that websites such as Opodo and CheapOair and their partners engaged in screenscraping and false advertising, and attempted to prevent them from showing Ryanair data.{{cite news |url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Ryanair-and-Momondo-fall-out-over-links-to-fare-screenscapers |title=Ryanair and Momondo fall out over links to fare screen scrapers |first=Kevin |last=May |work=Phocuswire |date=23 November 2016}}

In February 2020, the Advertising Standards Authority told Ryanair to provide adequate evidence to support environmental claims after the ASA banned adverts that claimed Ryanair was the lowest emissions airline in Europe for being misleading.{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-lowest-emissions-airline-ad-misleading-4993067-Feb2020/|title=Ryanair's low emissions claims ruled misleading by UK ad watchdog|publisher=TheJournal.ie|last=Burke|first=Ceimin|date=5 February 2020|access-date=6 February 2020}} Ryanair had claimed in the adverts that they had "the lowest carbon emissions of any major airline" and it was a "low {{CO2}} emissions airline" based on Europe's top 27 airlines. The ASA queried some figures and the definition of a "major airline" for the purposes of assessing . Complainants said the adverts were misleading and could not be substantiated. In response to the ASA Ryanair cited data from Eurocontrol and airline efficiency rankings from Brighter Plant. However, the ASA said that Ryanair had used an efficiency ranking from 2011 which was "of little value as substantiation for a comparison made in 2019". The ASA said that customers would interpret the adverts as saying that flying with Ryanair would mean they contributed fewer {{CO2}} emissions to the earth atmosphere, which could not be proven. The ASA said that the adverts "ads must not appear again in their current forms" as claims in them could not be substantiated.

On 26 July 2012, three Ryanair aircraft inbound to Madrid–Barajas Airport diverted to Valencia Airport due to severe thunderstorms in the Madrid area. All three aircraft declared an emergency (Mayday) when the calculated usable fuel on landing at Valencia Airport was less than the final reserve (30 minutes of flight) after having been held in the air for 50 to 69 minutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/madrid-diversions-to-valencia-26-july |title=Madrid Diversions To Valencia 26 July |publisher=Ryanair.com |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=15 February 2013}} The Irish Aviation Authority investigated the incidents and came to several conclusions, including:

1. "The aircraft in all three cases departed for Madrid with fuel over Flight Plan requirements";
2. "The Crew diverted to Valencia with fuel more than the minimum diversion fuel depicted on the Flight Plan";
3. "Diverting with fuel close to minimum diversion fuel in the circumstances presented on the evening in question was likely to present challenges for the crew. Initial holding was to the Southwest of Madrid which increased the diversion time to the alternate";
4. "The Crew declared an Emergency by EU-OPS when the calculated usable fuel for landing at Valencia was less than final reserve";
5. "The Met conditions in Madrid were more significant than anticipated by the Crew when reviewing the Met Forecast. Consequently, the additional fuel carried was influenced by the forecast";
6. "Operations into a busy airport such as Madrid in Thunderstorm conditions with the associated traffic levels can add significant delays to all traffic";
7. "Air Traffic Control in Valencia was under significant pressure with the number of diversions arriving in their airspace."{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/doc/news/2012/iaa_report_valencia_EN.pdf |title=IAA Report Weather Diversions Madrid |publisher=Irish Aviation Authority |date=21 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413160935/http://www.ryanair.com/doc/news/2012/iaa_report_valencia_EN.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2013}}

The Irish Aviation Authority made several recommendations, including that Ryanair should "review [its] fuel policy and consider issuing guidance to Crew concerning fuel when operating into busy airports with mixed aircraft operators and types, particularly in poor weather conditions when diversions are likely." The IAA also recommended that the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency "review delays into Madrid to consider if additional fuel should be recommended or required to be carried in normal operations, particularly where the southerly Runways are in operation."

Among the causes of the incident, the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission concluded that "the company's fuel savings policy, though it complies with the minimum legal requirements, tends to minimise the amount of fuel with which its aircraft operate and leaves none for contingencies below the legal minimums. This contributed to the amount of fuel used being improperly planned and to the amount of fuel onboard dropping below the required final fuel reserve."Report of CIAIAC IN-010/2010

In an interview with the Dutch investigative journalism programme KRO Reporter, four anonymous Ryanair pilots claimed they were being pressured to carry as little fuel as possible on board to cut costs.{{cite web|url=http://reporter.kro.nl/seizoenen/2012/afleveringen/28-12-2012/extras/mayday_mayday_-_international_version |title=Mayday Mayday – International version |publisher=Reporter |date=28 December 2012 |access-date=15 February 2013}} Ryanair and its CEO Michael O'Leary denied the allegations and sued KRO.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/9758790.stm |title=Hardtalk – Ryanair's Michael O'Leary: Fuel risk claims are lies |agency=BBC News |date=11 October 2012 |access-date=15 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanair.com/nl/nieuws/ryanair-dismisses-false-claims-from-kro-reporter |title=Ryanair dismisses false claims from KRO Reporter |publisher=Ryanair.com |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=15 February 2013}} On 16 April 2014, the Dutch Court decided that KRO had provided sufficient evidence in two television episodes of Mayday, Mayday broadcast in 2012 and 2013 to back the claims in respect of Ryanair's fuel policy and "fear culture". It also found that Ryanair had been given a right to reply in response to the claims. The broadcast of the programmes was found to be in the public interest. Ryanair was ordered to pay the legal costs of the case.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurocockpit.be/stories/20140417/mayday-mayday-wins-over-ryanair-defamation-allegations |title="Mayday Mayday" wins over Ryanair defamation allegations |publisher=Eurocockpit |access-date=17 April 2014}}

Ryanair has several low-cost competitors. Although traditionally a full-service airline, Aer Lingus moved to a low-fares strategy from 2002, leading to a much more intense competition with Ryanair on Irish routes.{{cite web|url=http://www.anna.aero/2008/10/03/aer-lingus-facing-increasing-direct-competition-from-ryanair-in-dublin/ |title=Aer Lingus facing increasing direct competition from Ryanair in Dublin; UK and US routes account for over 40% of capacity |publisher=anna.aero |date=3 October 2008 |access-date=25 December 2011}} Ryanair is a member of Airlines for Europe, having formerly been a member of the defunct European Low Fares Airline Association.{{cite web |url=http://www.elfaa.com/statistics.htm |title=The European Low Fares Airline Association |publisher=ELFAA |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002164554/http://www.elfaa.com/statistics.htm |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://a4e.eu/airlines/ |title=TA4E members |publisher=ELFAA |access-date=8 July 2017}}

Airlines that attempt to compete directly with Ryanair are treated competitively, with Ryanair being accused by some of reducing fares to significantly undercut its competitors. In response to MyTravelLite, which started to compete with Ryanair on Birmingham to Dublin route in 2003, Ryanair set up competing flights on some of MyTravelLite's routes until it pulled out. Go was another airline that attempted to offer services from Ryanair's base in Dublin to Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland. A fierce battle ensued, which ended with Go withdrawing its service from Dublin.Quinn, Eamonn. "No competitors for Ryanair in Dublin, says Cassani", 30 November 2003, at [http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2003/11/30/story361140301.asp Tcm.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505085256/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2003/11/30/story361140301.asp |date=5 May 2009}}. Retrieved 18 December 2006.

In September 2004, Ryanair's biggest competitor, EasyJet, announced routes to Ireland for the first time, beginning with the Cork to London Gatwick route. Until then, EasyJet had never competed directly with Ryanair on its home ground. EasyJet later withdrew its Gatwick-Cork, Gatwick-Shannon, Gatwick-Knock and Luton-Shannon routes.{{cite web|url=http://www.airlineprofiler.eu/2010/12/easyjet-vs-ryanair-continuous-competition/ |title=EasyJet vs. Ryanair – continuous competition | AirlineProfiler |publisher=Airlineprofiler.eu |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=25 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323005430/http://www.airlineprofiler.eu/2010/12/easyjet-vs-ryanair-continuous-competition/ |archive-date=23 March 2012}}

In 2012, Ryanair also responded to the decision of another low-cost carrier, Wizz Air, that planned to move its flight operations from Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland to the new low-cost Warsaw Modlin Airport in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki.{{cite web|url=http://www.polishguide2012.pl/en/warszawa/fan-guide/news/150 |title=Low cost Wizz Air and Ryanair moving to Modlin |publisher=PolishGuide2012.pl |date=8 February 2012 |access-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909070945/http://www.polishguide2012.pl/en/warszawa/fan-guide/news/150 |archive-date=9 September 2012}} Ryanair had previously operated the route to Dublin from Warsaw but withdrew, claiming that the fees at Warsaw's main airport were too high. When Wizz Air began operations from Modlin Airport, Ryanair began several new routes from the same airport, most of which were identical to routes offered by Wizz Air.

In 2008, Ryanair asked the Irish High Court to investigate why it had been refused permission to fly from Ireland West Airport to Dublin. This route was won by CityJet, which could not operate the service. The runner-up, Aer Arann, was then allowed to start flights, a move Ryanair criticises as the basis of not initiating an additional tender process was unlawful.Mulligan, John. "Ryanair wins judicial review of decision over Knock route", 10 September 2008 at [http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ryanair-wins-judicial-review-of-decision-over-knock-route-1472785.html Independent.ie]

DFDS Seaways cited competition from low-cost air services, especially Ryanair, which now flies to Edinburgh Airport and London Stansted Airport from Göteborg Landvetter Airport, as the reason for scrapping the Newcastle–Gothenburg ferry service in October 2006.Savage, James. "DFDS scraps Newcastle-Gothenburg line", 6 September 2006, at [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4805&date=20060906 Thelocal.se] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828100914/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4805&date=20060906 |date=28 August 2007}}. Retrieved 18 December 2006. It was the only dedicated passenger ferry service between Sweden and the United Kingdom and had been running under various operators since the 19th century.

File:European countries in which ryainar operates2.svg

{{Main|List of Ryanair destinations}}

Ryanair's largest base is at London-Stansted, followed by its home base at Dublin Airport.{{cite web |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/298821/airline-in-focus-ryanair |title=Airline In Focus: Ryanair |date=13 October 2022 }} Ryanair operates bases across Europe, some parts of the Middle East, and North Africa.Page 3 on{{cite web |url=https://investor.ryanair.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FY23-Ryanair-Presentation.pdf |title=FY23 Results – May 2023 |date=16 May 2023 }}

Ryanair traditionally prefers to fly to smaller or secondary airports, such as London Stansted or Paris Beauvais, usually outside major cities to help the company benefit from lower landing fees and quick turn-around times to reduce costs. Ryanair has even referred to Bratislava Airport in Slovakia as "Bratislava Vienna", despite Vienna being {{cvt|80|km}} away in another country. In some cases, secondary airports are not distant from the city they serve, and can be closer than the city's major airport; this is the case at Rome Ciampino Airport.

Ryanair does still serve several major airports, including Amsterdam Schiphol, Stockholm Arlanda, Athens, Barcelona El Prat, Berlin Brandenburg, Brussels Airport, Bucharest-Otopeni, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Lisbon, London-Gatwick, Madrid Barajas, Marseille, Oslo-Gardermoen and Rome-Fiumicino. Some of these cities do not have a viable secondary airport that Ryanair could use as an alternative. More recently, Ryanair has grown more at primary airports as it looks to attract more business passengers. In the summer of 2014, the airline opened bases in Athens, Lisbon and the primary airports of Brussels and Rome for the first time.

Ryanair flies in a point to-point model rather than the more traditional airline hub and spoke model where the passengers have to change aircraft in transit at a major airport, usually being able to reach more destinations this way.{{cite web |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6799765.ece |title=The Times |access-date=26 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710014823/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6799765.ece |archive-date=10 July 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/france-ireland-air.3sn/ |title=Ryanair says Air France stifling regional airports – EU Business News |publisher=EUbusiness.com |date=24 March 2010 |access-date=16 May 2010}} In April 2017 Ryanair added connecting flights to its portfolio, starting with a new transfer hub in Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO).{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/ryanair-umsteigefluege/41146 |title=Ryanair will Umsteigeflüge anbieten |access-date=11 April 2017}} Despite it being an Irish airline, it also has a significant presence in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom as well as many other European countries. Currently, its biggest country market is Italy, with fourteen bases and nine non-base airports.

Ryanair's largest competitor is EasyJet which has a far greater focus on larger or primary airports such as Amsterdam and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, heavily targeting business passengers. Ryanair also serves sun and beach destinations with bases in Sicily, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, the Greek Islands, and Malta among others. In August 2014, the airline unveiled ambitious plans to establish a major hub in Israel to service a broad range of European routes.{{cite news|title=Israeli market beckons Ryanair|url=http://www.irishsun.com/index.php/sid/225083355|date=25 August 2014|access-date=25 August 2014|publisher=Irish Sun.com}} In December 2014 Ryanair announced plans to open its 72nd base in 2015 in the Azores.{{cite web|url=http://aviationtribune.com/airlines/europe/item/1857-ryanair-announces-new-base-in-azores |title=Ryanair announces new base in Azores |access-date=11 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213012201/http://aviationtribune.com/airlines/europe/item/1857-ryanair-announces-new-base-in-azores |archive-date=13 December 2014 }} In February 2018, due to the Scottish Government not abolishing or reducing Air Passenger Duty (APD), Ryanair announced that it would cut many flights out of Glasgow Airport resulting in the airline closing its base there. The only routes out of Glasgow by the end of October were Dublin, Kraków and Wroclaw, with the rest being suspended permanently. This resulted in the loss of 300 members of airport staff. In April 2019, the airline reinstated four of its routes; to Alicante, Brussels, Málaga and Warsaw.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-to-close-its-base-at-glasgow-airport-1.3407989|title=Ryanair to close its base at Glasgow Airport|newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=28 February 2018}} In 2022, Ryanair announced that it would close its base at Frankfurt Airport in a row over fees, with the loss of 17 routes. The five aircraft based there are to be based in other locations throughout Europe.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

On 14 January 2025, it was reported that Ryanair will be introducing four additional new routes to its destinations; Wroclaw, Cagliari, Valencia and Kaunas beginning June 2025.{{Cite web |title=New Ryanair flights from Pescara |url=https://www.aviontourism.com/en/useful-information/airlines/low-cost/new-ryanair-flights-from-pescara-72288 |access-date=16 January 2025 |website=www.aviontourism.com |language=en}}

File:Ryanair_boarding.jpg]]

When Ryanair negotiates with airport operators, it demands very low landing and handling fees, as well as financial assistance with marketing and promotional campaigns.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/jul/18/ryanair-credit-card-payment-fee |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Steve |last=Playle |title=Time to take flight from these Ryanair add-ons |date=16 July 2009}} In subsequent contract renewal negotiations, the airline has been reported to play airports against each other, threatening to withdraw services and deploy the aircraft elsewhere, if the airport does not make further concessions. According to Michael O'Leary's biography, A Life in Full Flight, Ryanair's growing popularity and also growing bargaining power, with both airports and aircraft manufacturers, has resulted in the airline being less concerned about a market research/demographics approach to route selection to one based more on experimentation. This means it is more likely to fly its aircraft between the lowest-cost airports in anticipation that its presence alone on that route will be sufficient to create a demand which previously may not have existed, either in whole or in part.{{cite book |title=Michael O'Leary A Life in Full Flight |author=Alan Ruddock |page= 325}}

File:SP-RSX Boeing 737-8AS Buzz at WRO (2).jpg and rear mobile boarding stairs]]In April 2006, a failure to reach an agreement on a new commercial contract resulted in Ryanair announcing that it would withdraw service on the Dublin–Cardiff route at short notice.{{cite news |title=Cardiff to Dublin flight is ended |date=25 April 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4944784.stm |access-date=18 December 2006 |work=BBC News}} The airport management rebutted Ryanair's assertion that airport charges were unreasonably high, claiming that the Cardiff charges were already below Ryanair's average and claimed that Ryanair had recently adopted the same negotiating approach with Cork Airport and London Stansted Airport.{{cite web|url=http://info.cwlfly.com/en/news.asp?id=203 |title=News |publisher=Cardiff International Airport |access-date=31 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430072706/http://info.cwlfly.com/en/news.asp?id=203 |archive-date=30 April 2008}} In 2009, Ryanair was reported to have adopted "harsh" negotiating with Shannon Airport, threatening to close 75% of its operations there from April 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1030/ryanair.html |title=150 jobs to go as Ryanair cuts Shannon flights |work=RTÉ News |date=30 October 2009 |access-date=9 December 2010}} Ryanair was forced to give up its Rome Ciampino–Alghero route, after the route was allocated to Air One, as a public service obligation (PSO) route. The European Commission is investigating the actions of the Italian government in assigning PSO routes and thus restricting competition.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} In 2016, Ryanair withdrew over half of its flights from Rygge Airport in Norway, after which the airport decided to close down totally, as it was privately owned and would make a loss on the low traffic volume.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In order to further decrease airport costs and turnaround times, Ryanair flights often board and deplane from both the front and rear of the aircraft using boarding stairs or built-in airstairs rather than more expensive jet bridges.{{Cite web |last=Pescovitz |first=David |url=https://boingboing.net/2022/01/26/low-cost-airlines-save-real-money-by-making-you-climb-stairs-to-board-instead-of-using-a-jet-bridge.html |title=Low-cost airlines save real money by making you climb stairs to board instead of using a jet bridge |work=Boing Boing |date=26 January 2022 |accessdate=15 June 2024}}

In some cases, and more frequently as time has gone on, Ryanair has decided to use large airports where it is not dominant and pay the normal fees. Examples include Barcelona, Oslo, Copenhagen and Manchester, where the carrier increased flights in 2021.{{cite web|date=22 July 2021|title=Ryanair Adds Ten New Routes from Manchester – Travel Radar|url=https://travelradar.aero/ryanair-adds-ten-new-routes-from-manchester/|access-date=8 August 2021|website=Travel Radar – Aviation News|language=en-US}}

{{As of|2025|3}}, the Ryanair Group fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{Failed verification|date=March 2025}}

Ryanair has operated the following types of aircraft in the past:

File:239ah - Ryanair Boeing 737-300; G-BZZG@STN;27.05.2003 (8189643691).jpg hybrid livery in 2003]]

File:Ryanair B737-700 (EI-SEV) @ BHX, July 2016.jpg]]

File:Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EBX.jpg]]

File:EI-HGR Boeing 737-8-200Max Ryanair Stansted 18.7.21.jpg]]

Following the 2019 grounding of all 737 MAX aircraft, Ryanair initially reaffirmed its confidence in the aircraft and indicated that it would be ready to place a new order once it had returned to service; it would seek a reduced price instead of cash compensation.{{cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ryanair-ready-to-place-more-737-max-orders-oleary-458458/ |title=Ryanair ready to place more 737 Max orders: O'Leary |date=24 May 2019 |author=Max Kingsley Jones |work=Flightglobal}} In July that year, it warned that some of its bases would be subject to short-term closures in 2020, due to the shortfall in MAX deliveries, and pointed out that the MAX 200 version it has ordered will require separate certification expected to take a further two months after the MAX returns to service.{{cite news |last1=Kaminski-Morrow |first1=David |title=Ryanair warns of base cuts over 737 Max delays |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ryanair-warns-of-base-cuts-over-737-max-delays-459684/ |work=FlightGlobal |date=16 July 2019}} In the same month, O'Leary expressed concerns and frustration with the certification delays and revealed that, in parallel with discussions with Boeing regarding a potential order for new aircraft to be delivered from 2023, he was also talking to Airbus which was offering very aggressive pricing.{{cite news |last1=Bryan |first1=Victoria |title=Boeing needs to get its [act] together: Ryanair chief |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-needs-to-get-its-act-together-ryanair-ch-459960/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=29 July 2019}}

When Boeing builds an aircraft for Ryanair, it is allocated the customer code AS, which appears in its aircraft designation as an infix, such as 737-8AS.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Ryanair's fleet reached 200 aircraft for the first time on 5 September 2009.[http://www.ryanair.com/site/about/invest/docs/present/quarter_3_results_2009.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419030722/http://www.ryanair.com/site/about/invest/docs/present/quarter_3_results_2009.pdf|date=19 April 2009}}{{Cite news |last=Kollewe |first=Julia |date=18 December 2009 |title=Ryanair scraps Boeing order for 200 planes |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/dec/18/ryanair-boeing-talks-aircraft |access-date=21 December 2023}} All aircraft in the Ryanair fleet have been retrofitted with performance-enhancing winglets and the more recent deliveries have them fitted as standard.{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/about_history.php |publisher=Aviation Partners Boeing |title=Company History/Timeline}} See 2005.

The company also owns four Learjet 45 business jets, based at London Stansted Airport and Bergamo Airport but registered in the Isle of Man, which are mainly used for the quick transportation of maintenance personnel and small aircraft parts around the network.[http://www.airframes.org/reg/mabeu Airframes.org Aircraft Registration Database Lookup]. Retrieved 5 October 2012.{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2023 |reason= Source only relates to one of the four purported LJ45s }}

On 13 March 2013, Ryanair signed an order for 175 new Boeing 737-800s. In the press conference announcing the order, Michael O'Leary said Ryanair was still evaluating the possibility of the Boeing 737 MAX and stated its huge order in March was for the Boeing 737 Next Generation rather than the 737 MAX as it needed aircraft before the 737 MAX would enter service.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Ryanair also showed interest in other aircraft, including the Comac C919, when it signed a design agreement with Comac in 2011 to help produce a rival jet to Boeing's offerings. At the Paris Airshow in 2013, Michael O'Leary stated that Comac could build a larger version of the C919 aircraft that would hold up to 200 passengers.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/air-show-comac-ryanair-idUSL3N0EV2DL20130619 |title=Airshow – Ryanair CEO sees larger Chinese jet in early 2020s |work=Reuters |date= 19 June 2013|access-date=27 September 2013}}

On 30 April 2014, Ryanair confirmed that it had ordered five more aircraft to add to its fleet, four of them to be delivered in 2015 and the last one to be delivered in February 2016, to bring the number of aircraft on order to 180.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-buys-five-more-737-800-planes-from-boeing-1.1778712 |title=Ryanair buys five more 737-800 planes from Boeing |date=30 April 2014 |newspaper=The Irish Times}} In the summer of 2014, Ryanair contracted AirExplore to operate some of their summer flights between London Stansted and Dublin airport.{{cite web |last=Maslen |first=Richard |title=Ryanair Set to Lease 737-400s to Support Dublin Growth |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/240596/ryanair-set-to-lease-737-400s-to-support-dublin-growth/ |date=31 March 2014 |website=routesonline.com |access-date=7 May 2021}} On 8 September 2014, Ryanair committed to ordering 100 new Boeing 737 MAX 8s (plus options for an additional 100) for delivery in 2019.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} On 1 December 2014, the airline finalised its order for up to 200 Boeing 737 MAX 200s, a version of the 737 MAX 8 for low-cost airlines, named after the fact that they can carry 200 passengers. The order includes 100 firm and 100 purchase rights. This makes Ryanair the launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 200.{{Cite news |date=1 December 2014 |title=Boeing, Ryanair Finalize Order for 100 737 MAX 200s |work=Boeing |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2014-12-01-Boeing-Ryanair-Finalize-Order-for-100-737-MAX-200s |access-date=21 December 2023}}

After delays due to the grounding of the 737 MAX, the first Boeing 737 MAX 200 was finally delivered to Ryanair on 16 June 2021. Twelve deliveries were expected for the summer 2021 season (6 for Ryanair and 6 for Malta Air) and a further 50 by summer 2022.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} In July 2021, it was announced that Ryanair had already handed back all of its leased B737s, which were replaced by incoming B737 MAX 200 aircraft. The carrier expects to sell more of its older aircraft in the future.{{cite news|title=Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) CEO Michael O'Leary on Q1 2022 Results – Earnings Call Transcript {{!}} Seeking Alpha|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4441424-ryanair-holdings-plc-ryaay-ceo-michael-oleary-on-q1-2022-results-earnings-call-transcript|access-date=27 July 2021|newspaper=Seeking Alpha|date=26 July 2021 |language=en |last1=Transcripts |first1=SA }} In November 2022, the company announced it would have 124 Boeing 737 MAX 200 by summer 2023, reducing the number of unfulfilled orders to 86 aircraft.{{cite web|title=Ryanair H1 Results|url=https://investor.ryanair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/H1-FY23-Presentation.pdf|date=7 November 2022 | access-date=15 January 2023|website=seekingalpha.com|language=en}} In January 2023, the first Ryanair 737-800 to be retrofitted with split scimitar winglets entered service. The winglets reduce fuel burn by 1.5% and are to be fitted to all existing −800 aircraft in the Ryanair fleet.{{cite web|title=RYANAIR CUTS CARBON EMISSIONS BY 165,000 TONNES WITH WINGLET RETROFIT|url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-cuts-carbon-emissions-by-165000-tonnes-with-winglet-retrofit|date=23 January 2023|access-date=31 January 2023}}

On 30 January 2023, Ryanair Holdings CFO Neil Sorahan said that the Airbus A320 leases are extended to 2028.Q&A Video at 7min7sec via {{cite web | title=Ryanair Q3 Results FY23 | url=https://investor.ryanair.com/results-centre/q3-results-fy23/|date=30 January 2023|access-date=2 February 2023}}

• On 21 March 2008, Ryanair Flight 1216 while landing in Limoges skidded off the runway. The weather at the time was poor. Emergency slides were deployed and an emergency evacuation announced.{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/asndb/321752|title=Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=21 March 2008}}{{Cite web |last= |date=20 January 2016 |title=RYANAIR flight FR1216 - Aviation Accident Database |url=https://www.aviation-accidents.net/ryanair-boeing-b737-800-ei-daf-flight-fr1216/ |access-date=15 October 2024 |language=en}}
• On 10 November 2008, Ryanair Flight 4102 from Frankfurt–Hahn Airport suffered damage in an emergency landing at Rome–Ciampino Airport after experiencing bird strikes which damaged both engines on the approach. Two crew members and eight passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.{{cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=40fc7579&opt=0|title=Accident: Ryanair B738 at Rome on Nov 10th 2008, engine and landing gear trouble, temporarily departed runway |work=The Aviation Herald|access-date=11 November 2008}} The port undercarriage of the Boeing 737-800 collapsed,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7719716.stm |title=Bird-hit jet in emergency landing |agency=BBC News |access-date=11 November 2008 | date=10 November 2008}} leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway and closing the airport for over 35 hours. As well as damage to the engines and undercarriage, the rear fuselage was damaged.{{cite web |last=Kaminski-Morrow |first=David |date=13 November 2008 |title=Pictures: Bird-struck Ryanair 737 extensively damaged |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pictures-bird-struck-ryanair-737-extensively-damaged/83887.article |access-date=22 December 2023 |work=Flight International}} The aircraft involved was damaged beyond repair and was scrapped. The final report of the accident, investigated by ANSV (National Flight Safety Agency) was released on 20 December 2018, more than 10 years later.{{cite web|url=http://www.ansv.it/cgi-bin/ita/Report%20EI-DYG.pdf|title=Report EI-DYG|publisher=ANSV |date=20 December 2018}} An English translation was provided by Aviation Accident Database.[http://www.aviation-accidents.net/ryanair-flight-fr4102/ Official italian accident report issued by ANSV and its english translation]. Aviation Accidents Database. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
• On 23 May 2021, Ryanair Flight 4978 (Athens–Vilnius) was diverted to Minsk National Airport after a false bomb threat was made while the aircraft was {{convert|45|nmi|km mi}} south of Vilnius and {{convert|90|nmi|km mi}} west of Minsk, but still in Belarusian airspace.{{cite news|first=Patrick|last=Reevell|title=Ryanair flight forced to land in Belarus with top activist on board|date=24 May 2021|publisher=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/ryanair-flight-forced-land-belarus-top-activist-onboard/story?id=77859336|access-date=24 May 2021|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524032204/https://abcnews.go.com/International/ryanair-flight-forced-land-belarus-top-activist-onboard/story?id=77859336|url-status=live}} According to the airline, its pilots were notified by Belarusian authorities of "a potential security threat on board" and told to land the plane in Minsk.{{Cite news|last1=Troianovski|first1=Anton|author-link=Anton Troianovski|last2=Nechepurenko|first2=Ivan|author-link2=Ivan Nechepurenko|date=23 May 2021|title=Belarus Forces Down Plane to Seize Dissident; Europe Sees 'State Hijacking'|language=en|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/world/europe/ryanair-belarus.html|access-date=27 January 2022|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|title=Ryanair plane: Western powers voice outrage at plane 'hijacking'|date=24 May 2021|agency=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57224452|access-date=24 May 2021}} In Minsk, Belarusian journalist and opposition activist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend were deplaned and arrested.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-diverts-ryanair-plane-to-arrest-activist-journalist/a-57635240|title=Belarus diverts Ryanair plane to arrest activist journalist |date=23 May 2021|publisher=Deutsche Welle}}{{Cite web|url=https://nashaniva.com/?c=ar&i=273349|title=У аэрапорце Мінска, рэзка змяніўшы курс, прызямліўся самалёт Афіны—Вільня — на борце быў Раман Пратасевіч|website=Наша Ніва|date=23 May 2021 |language=be |trans-title=At the airport of Minsk, the Athens-Vilnius plane, having abruptly changed its course, landed - Raman Pratasevich was on board}} Although the plane was closer to Vilnius, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, according to his press service, personally ordered the flight to be redirected to Minsk and sent Belarusian Air Force MiG-29 fighter aircraft to escort it.{{Cite web|url=https://people.onliner.by/2021/05/23/na-bortu-samoleta-avarijno-posazhennogo-v-minske-byl-roman-protasevich|title=Самолет Ryanair экстренно посадили в Минске. Самое важное – Лайфстайл Onlíner|first1=Дарья |last1=Спевак |first2=Татьяна |last2=Ошуркевич|date=23 May 2021|website=Onlíner |trans-title=A Ryanair plane was urgently landed in Minsk. The most important |language=RU}}{{Cite web|url=http://spring96.org/be/news/103499|title=У аэрапорце "Мінск" затрыманы блогер Раман Пратасевіч і яго дзяўчына Сафія Сапега|website=spring96.org|date=23 May 2021|trans-title=Blogger Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega were detained at Minsk airport|language=BE}} Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for an ICAO investigation of the incident.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-raman-pratasevich-ryanair-false-bomb-threat/31269351.html|title=EU, NATO Demand Belarus Explain 'Forcible' Diversion Of Passenger Plane, Detention Of Journalist|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=23 May 2021 |agency=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty}}
• On 3 October 2024, a Ryanair plane (Flight 8826 Brindisi-Turin) caught fire while taxiing for take-off, leading to the passengers being evacuated and Brindisi airport being closed for three hours. Italian lawmakers, who cited multiple incidents involving Ryanair in 2024, demanded an investigation into the company's safety practices by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) and a parliamentary hearing with the authority's leaders.{{Cite web |last=William |first=Helen |date=5 October 2024 |title=Ryanair Boeing 737 Plane Catches Fire at Brindisi Airport in Italy |url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/10/05/ryanair-boeing-737-plane-catches-fire-at-brindisi-airport-in-italy/ |access-date=14 October 2024 |website=Aviation A2Z |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mortensen |first=Barbie Latza Nadeau, Antonia |date=3 October 2024 |title=184 passengers and crew evacuated as Ryanair Boeing plane catches fire on runway in Italy |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/ryanair-boeing-catches-fire-runway-italy/index.html |access-date=14 October 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}} A similar request was made to the EU Commission by Italian MEPs, who requested an answer as to what action the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will take.{{Cite web |last=MORATTI |first=Flavio TOSI, Caterina CHINNICI, Massimiliano SALINI, Salvatore DE MEO, Giusi PRINCI, Marco FALCONE, Letizia |title=Parliamentary question {{!}} Incidents on Ryanair planes – concerns for passenger safety {{!}} E-001973/2024 {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001973_EN.html |access-date=19 October 2024 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=en}}
• On 4 June 2025, Ryanair Flight 8 encountered severe turbulence and nine were injured.{{Cite web |date=5 June 2025 |title=Nine injured after Ryanair flight hits turbulence |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/travel/nine-injured-after-ryanair-flight-hits-turbulence |access-date=5 June 2025 |website=CNN Travel}}

• List of airlines
• List of companies of Ireland
• List of low-cost airlines

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{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |first=Simon |last=Calder |title=No Frills: The Truth Behind the Low-Cost Revolution in the Skies |year=2002 |isbn=1-85227-932-X |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London}}
• {{cite news |work=The Guardian |title=Ryanair ... the low-fare airline with the sky-high insurance levy |url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1769707,00.html |access-date=29 May 2006 |location=London |first=Andrew |last=Clark |date=8 May 2006}}
• {{cite book |first=Siobhán |last=Creaton |title=Ryanair: How a Small Irish Airline Conquered Europe |year=2004 |isbn=1-85410-992-8 |publisher=Aurum Press |location=London}}
• {{cite book |author-mask=1|first=Siobhán |last=Creaton |title=Ryanair: The full story of the controversial low-cost airline |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84513-293-4 |publisher=Aurum |location=London}}
• {{cite book |first=Alan |last=Ruddock |title=Michael O'Leary – A Life in Full Flight |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84488-055-3 |publisher=Penguin Ireland |location=Dublin}}
• {{cite news |url=https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/ryanairs-unstoppable-growth-profits-planes-routes/ |title=Ryanair's Unstoppable Growth: Profits, Planes, Routes |date=22 May 2018 |first=James |last=Field |work=Airways magazine |access-date=23 May 2018 |archive-date=7 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707124840/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/ryanairs-unstoppable-growth-profits-planes-routes/ |url-status=dead }}

{{Sister project links}}

• {{official website|https://www.ryanair.com}}

{{Ryanair}}

{{Airlines of the Republic of Ireland}}

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{{ISEQ 20 companies}}

{{Portal bar|Ireland|Companies|Aviation}}

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Category:Airlines established in 1984

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Category:Companies listed on Euronext Dublin

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Category:Irish companies established in 1984

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