Ryanair is expecting a “very strong recovery” in European short-haul flights, according to its chief executive, Michael O’Leary.
The Dublin-based carrier predicts it will fly 10.5 million passengers a month over the next three months.
By passenger count, the airline is Europe’s largest, reports BBC.
“Through the winter, pricing will continue to build, but it will still be below pre-Covid,” Mr O’Leary said before a news briefing.
“We don’t expect pricing to go back to pre-Covid levels until the summer of 2022,” he added.
“We’re certainly very keen to place a Max-10 order, but only when the timing and the pricing is right,” Mr O’Leary said.
The reopening of travel in Europe and the easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated UK travellers has led to a significant increase in demand.
As a result, EasyJet too has announced that it is extending its flying schedules.
Doug Parker, chief executive of American Airlines, also recently told analysts: “We are in the midst of an unprecedented recovery.”
British Airways, owned by London-listed IAG, said it is working on plans for a short-haul presence at Gatwick Airport.
But the airline also warned it was facing a “serious” problem over wage costs which would “steeply increase” when the furlough scheme ends in September.
The government has said the aviation sector will have benefited from £7bn in government support by the end of September since the pandemic began.
