Ryanair cuts 10,000 flights due to rising fuel costs

Ryanair has announced significant reductions to its winter flight schedule for the 2026/2027 season, cutting approximately 10,000 flights and two million seats. The decision is a strategic response to rising jet fuel costs, which have reached approximately $140 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. While the airline has hedged 80% of its fuel needs through March 2027 at $67 per barrel, it remains exposed to market volatility on the remaining 20%.

The airline has lowered its annual passenger target for the fiscal year ending March 2027 from 216 million to 214 million. These capacity cuts are expected to reduce seasonal losses by between 70 million and 100 million euros.

Impacted regions include several European locations. In Italy, significant changes are expected at Lamezia Terme, with modifications to 11 routes, and Alghero, which faces potential isolation during the winter. Other affected Italian hubs include Pisa, Bologna, Milan Malpensa, and Venice. In Belgium, the airline is reducing capacity at Brussels-Zaventem and Charleroi. Previous reductions have also affected routes in France, Spain, Greece, and Portugal.