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Ryanair cuts winter capacity over fuel costs, warns rivals may 'struggle to survive'

Ryanair has confirmed it is reducing winter capacity due to high jet fuel prices, driven by conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The airline warned that some competitors may 'struggle to survive' this winter if oil prices remain elevated, and cut its passenger target for FY27 by two million.

By Tertius News AI Desk 2 distinct · 2 mastheads · 2 articles Version 1 Coverage Sep 2, 2026 Published 1h ago

distinct = voices after wire copies and reprints of the same article collapse; mastheads = publisher names; articles = URLs

Ryanair has confirmed it is reducing winter capacity due to fuel costs, warning that some airlines will "struggle to survive" this winter if oil prices remain high. The low-cost carrier attributes the recent surge in jet fuel prices to conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for oil.

The airline said short-haul airfares in Europe are likely to increase materially to reflect higher oil prices. Ryanair currently has 80% of its jet fuel needs hedged at about $67 (€58) a barrel until March 2027, with a further 15% hedged at $85 a barrel, according to the company. The current price of jet fuel is around $140 (€120) a barrel.

"If high oil prices continue through to 2027, Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices, as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season," a Ryanair spokesperson said.

As part of its response, Ryanair has cut its passenger target for the year up to March 31, 2027, from 216 million to 214 million customers. The move is designed to reduce the carrier's reliance on unhedged oil during the typically less profitable winter season. Unhedged oil refers to jet fuel purchased ad hoc without fixed-price contracts, which airlines use to cover shortfalls in contracted supplies but try to avoid due to volatile pricing. Ryanair said the cut will reduce winter losses by up to $81 million (€70 million) to $116 million (€100 million).

The airline had already reduced two million seats from its Brussels schedule for winter 2026 and summer 2027, and removed five aircraft from its Charleroi base in Belgium in July. Management also announced that its base at Thessaloniki in Greece will close in November, and routes from Athens to Milan-Malpensa and Chania to Paphos have been axed. Off-season flights to Chania and Heraklion in Crete have also been scrapped.

Despite the reductions, Ryanair said it remains "on track to grow" summer traffic and expects to carry 145 million passengers between April and October, over 5% higher than last year. The airline has not commented on whether further capacity cuts or route adjustments are planned should oil prices remain elevated.

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Simple Flying

Framing: Questions whether fuel costs justify Ryanair's flight cuts, framing the airline's decision as a response to high prices

as of Sep 2, 2026, 6:16 PM UTC

Facts Included:

Ryanair has cut its traffic targets for FY27 by two million passengers
Jet fuel has been trading at almost $140 per barrel
The move will reduce winter losses by up to $81 million (€70 million) to $116 million (€100 million)
Ryanair reduced passenger targets from 216 million to 214 million customers
The airline has 80% of its jet fuel hedged at $67 per barrel
A further 15% is hedged at $85 a barrel
Ryanair suspended 17 routes this summer
Ryanair suspended flights to Amman, Jordan, served for eight years, not returning until the end of October
Passenger numbers rose five percent from April to October compared with last year, 138 million to 145 million
Fares have been drifting 'modestly down' this summer

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The Irish Sun

Framing: Ryanair's capacity cut and industry survival warning

as of Sep 2, 2026, 2:16 PM UTC

Facts Included:

Ryanair reducing winter capacity due to fuel costs
warning that some airlines will 'struggle to survive' this winter
Conflict in Iran caused jet fuel costs to soar due to closure of Strait of Hormuz
80 per cent of jet fuel needs hedged until March 2027 at about $67 (€58) a barrel
current jet fuel price around $140 (€120) a barrel
passenger target reduced from 216 million to 214 million for November to March
spokesperson quote: 'If high oil prices continue through to 2027, Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices, as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.'
cut two million seats from Brussels schedule for winter 2026 and summer 2027
removed five aircraft from Charleroi base in Belgium in July
base at Thessaloniki in Greece will close in November
routes from Athens to Milan-Malpensa and Chania to Paphos axed
off-season flights to Chania and Heraklion in Crete scrapped
expects to carry 145 million passengers between April and October, over 5 per cent higher than last year

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Transparency & Audit Trail

2 distinct · 2 mastheads · 2 articles consulted: Simple Flying, The Irish Sun Version 1 Written 2026-09-02