Ryanair has seen a ‘surge’ in late bookings as vaccinated travellers jump at the chance to go on holiday without needing to quarantine.
Boss Michael O’Leary predicted a rebound in air travel over the winter and into next summer.
The no-frills airline has upgraded forecasts for the number of passengers it will carry this financial year – to between 90m and 100m. It said in May it could fly as few as 80m.
Taking off: Boss Michael O’Leary predicted a rebound in air travel over the winter and into next summer
The Irish airline’s upbeat outlook came as Heathrow revealed its total losses caused by Covid had reached £2.9billion.
The UK’s largest airport posted a loss of £868m for the first half of 2021, though it said it was now ’emerging from the worst effects’ of the pandemic.
But bosses blasted expensive testing requirements for travel and said the UK was behind Europe.
Ryanair made a loss of £233m for the three months to the end of June and warned it was unlikely to turn a profit this year.
The company said it would make a small loss or only just break even in the year to March. It said Covid had continued to ‘wreak havoc’ during the most recent quarter.
Since July 19, travellers who have had both jabs in the UK no longer need to quarantine on their return to England from countries on the ‘amber’ list. Ryanair shares were up by 3.8 per cent, or 60 cents to 16.39 euros (£14) last night.
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