Ryanair doubled its profits in the first quarter, thanks in part to the timing of the Easter holidays and higher air fares.

Profits after tax rose 128 per cent to €820million (£710million) in the three months ending June, while flight prices rose 21 per cent. 

Michael O'Leary, chief executive, said fares had 'substantially benefitted from having a full Easter holiday in April, weak prior-year comps and marginally stronger than expected close-in pricing.'

Revenue was 20 per cent higher at €4.34billion (£3.76billion) as passenger numbers increased 4 per cent from 55.5million in June 2024 to 57.9million in June 2025.

The Irish airline said it continued to see strong demand and full-year traffic remains on track to grow 3 per cent to 206 million passengers.

In the second quarter, when European airlines make most of their profit, Ryanair says it expects to recover most of the 7 per cent fare decline seen last year.

O'Leary said it was too early to provide full-year profit guidance as it would be heavily dependent on external factors, including the impact of tariffs, European air traffic control 'mismanagement', and conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Ryanair is Boeing's largest customer in Europe and is particularly exposed to the impact of tariffs on commercial aircraft. However, the airline said it was hopeful an exemption could be agreed between the EU and US.

Mark Crouch, market analyst at eToro, says: 'Ryanair's latest numbers leave little doubt, this airline is built differently. 

'Profits more than doubled in the three months to June, and all this while tariff uncertainty lingers and Boeing delays continue to hold back fleet growth. Most carriers would kill for these kinds of 'problems'.

'It's not just that Ryanair is outperforming a sector still facing turbulence, it's that it's doing so with a kind of swagger. 

'Where others are weighed down by cost inflation, wavering passenger demand, and operational chaos, Ryanair is flying straight through it. Fewer planes? No problem. Higher fares? Passengers still pile in.'

By contrast, EasyJet reported last week that industrial action by French air traffic control could weigh on profits this year.

Kenton Jarvis told investors last week that French unions had presented 'unacceptable challenges for customers and crew' and created unexpected and significant costs for all airlines'.

Ryanair came under fire over the weekend after an investigation by The Sunday Times claimed the airline pay bonuses to staff who catch travellers with oversized luggage. 

An employee claimed they were paid €1.50 (£1.30) per bag, with a €80 monthly limit.