Ryanair considers pay freezes and reducing crew on flights as fuel costs soar

A major European low-cost airline is exploring significant cost-saving strategies, including potential pay freezes, reduced crew deployment, and expanded AI integration, as it braces for a sharp rise in fuel expenses linked to geopolitical tensions. The carrier projects its annual jet fuel bill could swell by roughly two billion euros in the coming financial year, following broader industry warnings of steep ticket price hikes across Europe. With fuel costs driving financial pressure, the airline is weighing efficiency measures to mitigate the impact on operations.

Airline weighs up increasing use of AI as part of cost-cutting measures amid warnings of €2bn rise in annual fuel billBusiness live – latest updatesRyanair is considering cost-cutting measures including pay freezes, reducing crew numbers on flights and increasing the use of AI to offset soaring fuel costs driven by the Middle East conflict.Europe’s largest low-cost carrier said it expected European airlines to raise ticket prices by up to 20%, with its own jet fuel costs forecast to rise by about €2bn (£1.6bn) in its next financial year, which ends in March 2028. Continue reading...