{
  "id": 17773752,
  "title": "Ryanair considers pay freezes and reducing crew on flights as fuel costs soar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/ryanair-considers-pay-freezes-and-reducing-crew-on-flights-as-fuel",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-02T09:06:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/02/ryanair-considers-pay-freezes-reducing-crew-on-flights-fuel-costs-soar-ai"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, is exploring cost-cutting measures amid soaring fuel costs due to the Iran war. The airline expects European airlines to raise ticket prices by up to 20% as its jet fuel expenses are projected to rise by approximately €2 billion in the upcoming financial year, which ends in March 2028. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair's CEO, stated that unless the Middle East conflict is resolved swiftly, jet fuel prices are expected to remain high well into 2027. The airline is considering implementing pay freezes, reducing crew on flights, and increasing the use of artificial intelligence to offset the impact of the escalating fuel costs. Ryanair's fuel requirements through the end of March are currently 80% hedged at $67 a barrel, with additional hedges covering the following 12 months at $95 a barrel. The Irish airline, which reported a 6% year-on-year decrease in post-tax profit to €1.61 billion in the quarter ending September, emphasized that the current booking window is closer-in, reducing visibility, and that fare prices in the final quarter of the year are trending \"modestly ahead\" of the same period last year. The company believes that European short-haul fares will increase materially in the coming year due to higher jet-fuel prices and competitor capacity reductions.",
  "summary": "Airline also weighs up increasing use of AI as part of cost-cutting measures to offset impact of Iran war Ryanair is considering cost-cutting measures including implementing pay freezes, reducing crew on flights and increasing the use of AI to offset soaring fuel costs because of the Middle East conflict . Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier said it expects European airlines to raise their ticket…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "Ryanair warns that high fuel costs will likely mean more expensive flights and frozen staff pay",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/ryanair-warns-that-high-fuel-costs-will-likely-mean-more-expensive",
        "published": "2026-11-02T12:29:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}