Ryanair reported a 12% year-over-year increase in revenues for the first half of fiscal 2026, driven by a 9% rise in passenger traffic to 65 million travelers. The airline’s ancillary revenue per passenger climbed 5% to €14.30, reflecting strong demand for priority boarding, seat reservations and on-board sales. Operating margins expanded by 150 basis points to 25.3%, as unit costs remained flat despite modest fuel price inflation. Management reaffirmed a full-year guidance of 140 million passengers and at least 25% operating margin, positioning the carrier well above the industry average for short-haul operators.

A public dispute over the installation of SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi system has unexpectedly driven bookings. Since the spat began, Ryanair has recorded a 7% uptick in daily online ticket purchases, with over 100,000 seats sold under a promotional “Big Idiot” sale priced at £16.99 one-way. CEO Michael O’Leary noted that this sales bump equates to an incremental €10 million in bookings over a single week, and website traffic surged 30% compared with the same period last year. The airline’s marketing team capitalized on social media engagement, which increased follower interactions by 250% on the company’s primary platform.

Despite informal suggestions from Elon Musk about acquiring Ryanair, European Union ownership rules require that at least 50% of voting rights be held by nationals of EU member states or specific allied countries. Ryanair’s current shareholder base comprises 62% EU-domiciled investors, rendering a full takeover structurally infeasible. Market capitalization stands near €30.4 billion, but any non-EU investor can only hold a minority, non-voting stake. Management has indicated openness to external equity investment partners, but insists on maintaining compliance with existing aviation ownership regulations.