Ryanair predicts a fast rebound in European airline travel

Ryanair is expecting a "very strong recovery" in European short-haul flights, according to its chief executive, Michael O'Leary. The airline, which forecasts its capacity should return to pre-pandemic levels very soon, has also launched 14 new routes from London airports.

Gatwick will open a new flight to Spain, and Luton will now have flights to Gran Canaria, Naples and Grenoble. Stansted will also offer new services, including Helsinki and Stockholm.

The Dublin-based airline predicts it will fly a total of 10.5 million passengers a month over the next three months, making them, by passenger count, the largest airline in Europe.

"Through the winter, pricing will continue to build, but it will still be below pre-Covid," said O'Leary, "we don't expect pricing to go back to pre-Covid levels until the summer of 2022," he added.

The airline is also looking to expand its order for Boeing aircraft and said it was hoping to buy up to 55 new planes. "We're certainly very keen to place a Max-10 order, but only when the timing and the pricing is right," O'Leary said.

He went on to criticise the UK government's current travel restrictions. "If you just remove these stupid traffic light systems that don't work and confuse people, then I think people are very willing to go back to flying," he said.

The reopening of travel in Europe and the easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated UK travellers has led to a significant increase in demand. As a result, EasyJet has also announced that it is extending its flying schedules.

British Airways, owned by IAG, said it is working on plans for a short-haul presence at Gatwick Airport. But the airline also warned it was facing a "serious" problem over wage costs which would "steeply increase" when the furlough scheme ends in September.

The government has said that the aviation sector will have benefited from £7bn in government support by the end of September since the pandemic began.