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Ryanair has accused EU national governments of continuing to “ mismanage ” air travel as England prepares to join the number of countries imposing a second coronavirus lockdown.
The low-cost carrier used the release of its semi-annual results, which showed a shift to a financial loss, to say that it was unable to provide guidance on full-year earnings until the end of March, except to say that it expected losses to widen. .
It reported a loss of 197 million euros (178 million pounds sterling) during the six months to September compared to after-tax earnings of more than 1.1 billion euros in the same period last year, as the number of passengers fell 80% to 17 million during the COVID-19 crisis.
Ryanair expects to fly more than 50% of its pre-pandemic schedule in summer 2021
Ryanair said cost-cutting measures across the company, including salary agreements with crew and pilots, helped avoid a major impact on its bottom line.
Their statement read: “The group expects to carry approximately 38 million passengers in fiscal year 21 (full year 2021), although this guidance could be revised downwards if EU governments continue to mismanage air travel and impose more restrictions on air travel. uncoordinated travel or lockdowns this winter.. “
The group has already slowed operations for the current winter season, and Ryanair reacted to tighter restrictions in its local Irish market by flying in and out of Dublin only for the duration of the country’s current lockdown.
England It is also preparing to join major markets in Germany and France to curb overseas travel starting Thursday as the Boris Johnson government seeks to control rising infection rates.
A Sky News job tracker shows that the aviation sector as a whole is among the biggest losers in the continued disruption, with British Airways expected to have cut nearly 13,000 jobs.
Ryanair suggested, however, that brighter skies were coming.
Chief Executive Michael O’Leary used a video presentation to say that he expected to see very strong demand next summer, and that Ryanair expected to fly between 50% and 80% of its pre-pandemic traffic levels.
It expected profitability to increase with the arrival of at least 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, delayed by the grounding of the entire MAX fleet in March last year, following fatal accidents involving aircraft operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines. .
Boeing expects US and European regulators to authorize an updated MAX fleet to fly again
Boeing has indicated that it awaits authorization to resume flights before the end of the year.
The MAX crisis led Ryanair to halt its expansion plans last year and it said it was on track to agree on compensation with Boeing in the coming weeks.
Such an agreement will clear the way for the delivery of the most fuel efficient aircraft and for the training to be completed in time for the summer program.
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