European air fares could rise by as much as 20% in 2027, Ryanair boss predicts
Summary
Ryanair’s chief executive predicts European air fares could rise by up to 20% in 2027 due to higher jet fuel costs caused by conflict in the Middle East. Many airlines, including Ryanair, are not protected against these rising fuel prices, leading to possible bankruptcies and flight route cuts.Key Facts
- Ryanair expects air ticket prices in Europe to increase by 10% to 20% next year.
- Jet fuel prices have risen sharply because of conflicts in the Middle East that disrupted supplies.
- Fuel accounts for a large part of airline costs, and higher prices reduce airline profits.
- Ryanair had fuel price protection (hedging) for most of 2026 but will be mostly unprotected (85%) in 2027.
- The current market price for jet fuel is about twice Ryanair’s hedged price for 2027.
- Ryanair announced it will cut 20 flight routes and over one million seats in Belgium for winter due to higher aviation taxes and fuel costs.
- EasyJet also faces higher fuel expenses and is cutting 700,000 seats from its winter schedule.
- Airlines warn that many carriers may face financial trouble if fuel prices stay high and consumers reduce spending on travel.
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