The company says such a deal with Aer Lingus would be a “win-win” for Ireland.
It is currently waiting for a reply to proposals from the IAG-owned airline and expects to hear from it either this week or next. If the reply is positive, a service could commence sometime next year.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has firmed up its recently raised profit guidance for its current financial year, saying that it will also carry more passengers than previously anticipated.
On the back of a bumper set of first-half financial figures, the airline yesterday said that it expects to carry 105m passengers across its European route network during the 12 months to the end of next March.
This is marginally up from the previous guidance of 103m to 104m, but is a full 16% up on the 90.6m people carried in the company’s last financial year. The long-term passenger target of 160m by 2024 has been increased to 180m.
As of the halfway point in its current fiscal year, Ryanair had carried just over 58m passengers, representing year-on-year growth of 13%.
Ryanair says winter is looking tougher after a summer booking spree https://t.co/SOfL907S6i pic.twitter.com/vAcvGDkUbO
Net profit, for the six months to the end of September, came in at nearly €1.1bn; up 37% on the €795m for the same period last year. First half revenue grew by 14% to €4.04bn and basic earnings per share were up by almost 40% at 80c.
Chief executive Michael O’Leary hailed the strong showing but said the bumper summer by the airline was due to “a very rare confluence of favourable events” including stronger sterling, adverse weather conditions in northern Europe, “reasonably flat industry capacity and further savings on our unhedged fuel”.
Last month, Ryanair upped its full-year profit guidance by 25% from a range of €940m to €970m to one of €1.17bn to €1.22bn.
Management strengthened that forecast yesterday by saying it sees the final figure coming in at the upper end of that range.
However, despite the rising earnings, Ryanair is still not planning to commit to a consistent dividend policy and will only continue to return surplus cash to investors by way of special dividends or share buybacks.
While no more returns are planned, some expect another windfall payment for shareholders in the medium-term.
“The balance sheet remains formidable, with net cash of €976m at the end of the [second] quarter, before the €398m Aer Lingus distribution,” said Stephen Furlong of Davy Stockbrokers.
“We expect further significant special dividends in the following fiscal year.”