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under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F..X.. Form 40-F
Indicate
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contained
in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
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pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
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Act of
1934.
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No ..X..
If
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registrant
in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR BOARD
APPROVES ACCELERATED POST COVID GROWTH
NEW AIRCRAFT, NEW BASES & LOWER COSTS, SEES 5 YEAR TRAFFIC
GROWTH JUMP 50% FROM 150M TO 225M GUESTS P.A.
Ryanair Holdings plc, today (Thurs, 16th Sept)
holds its AGM at its Airside Offices in Dublin.
Based on proxy votes already received, Shareholders have approved
all resolutions and will receive a detailed update on the Airline
Group's post-Covid recovery plans over the next 5 years. Subject to
no adverse Covid developments, and vaccinations remaining at 90%+
across Europe, Ryanair will take delivery of 210 B737 Gamechanger
aircraft over the next 5 years. These aircraft will deliver
industry lowest costs, reduced emissions, and will enable Ryanair
accelerate its post-Covid growth, as opportunities open up at
primary and secondary airports all over Europe, particularly where
legacy carriers have failed or reduced fleet sizes as a result of
Covid and State Aid.
Ryanair Group airlines now expect to deliver more rapid traffic
growth over the next 5 years, and have raised their 5 year growth
forecast from 33% to 50%. As a result, Ryanair's pre-Covid traffic
of 149m is expected to grow to over 225m guests by March 2026,
which is 25m passengers p.a. higher than the previous target of
200m.
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said:
"The
performance of the B737 Gamechanger aircraft this summer has
exceeded our expectations. Operational reliability, fuel
consumption, and lower CO2 emissions have so far exceeded
guidelines with very positive passenger and crew feedback to these
new, more fuel efficient, quieter aircraft.
With these new deliveries, Ryanair will open 10 new bases across
Europe this year as we work with airport partners to help them
recover traffic & jobs post Covid, and take up slot
opportunities that are being vacated by competitor airlines who
have collapsed or significantly reduced their fleet
sizes.
Ryanair expects to create over 5,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin
crew and engineers over the next 5 years, and the Group is excited
to have, earlier this week, opened a €50m Aviation Training
Centre in Dublin, with 2 further high quality training centres
planned for Spain and Poland over the next 5 years.
The Covid-19 pandemic has delivered an unprecedented blow to
Europe's aviation and tourism industries. Only Ryanair has used
this crisis to place significantly increased aircraft orders, to
expand our airport partnerships, and to secure lower operating
costs so that we can pass on even lower fares to our guests, so
that together with our airport partners, we can recover strongly
from the Covid pandemic and deliver higher than expected growth in
both traffic and jobs over the next 5 years."
ENDS
This
announcement includes inside information.
For further info
please
contact:
Press Office
Piaras
Kelly
Ryanair
DAC
Edelman Ireland
Tel: +353-1-9451799
Tel: +353-1-592 1330
press@ryanair.com
ryanair@edelman.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.