Overview
- CEO Michael O’Leary intensified warnings that higher UK passenger taxes from April could push Ryanair to reallocate aircraft to lower‑tax markets.
- He said the planned increase would equate to roughly 33% of a typical Ryanair fare of about £45 and claimed it would make family travel prohibitive.
- Ryanair reported strong half‑year results, including about €2.5 billion profit after tax, 119 million passengers and a 13% rise in average fares.
- O’Leary urged abolishing APD outside London, arguing a roughly £2 billion cost could be recouped through visitor spending and VAT.
- Wizz Air pointed to its recent move of aircraft from Vienna to Bratislava due to rising costs as a case study, while the OBR forecasts APD will raise about £4.5–£4.7 billion in 2025–26.