{
  "id": 17794306,
  "title": "Ryanair says it may freeze workers’ pay and raise airfares",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/ryanair-says-it-may-freeze-workers-pay-and-raise-airfares",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T12:11:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ryanair-says-it-may-freeze-workers-pay-and-raise-airfares/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ryanair, the budget airline, is contemplating a temporary wage freeze for its employees and predicts airfares will be \"materially higher\" next summer due to a sharp increase in fuel costs stemming from the US-Israel conflict with Iran, according to a report. The company foresees its fuel expenses to soar by €2bn (£1.6bn) in the near future, with chief executive Michael O'Leary announcing a potential double-digit rise in airfares to offset these costs. However, O'Leary believes this may not be sufficient and the airline is exploring the option of temporary pay freezes. Unite, Ryanair's staff union, has not yet commented. O'Leary also revealed that the company will curb hiring as operational costs escalate. Pre-tax profits at Ryanair declined by 16% to €2.4bn during the six months ending in September, primarily due to fuel costs surging by 15%. While 80% of the fuel bill has been hedged, the remaining portion is deemed more expensive. O'Leary reiterated earlier forecasts that a 20% fare hike would be necessary to cover jet fuel expenses, although he doubts achieving this target. He noted that double-digit fare increases across Europe are anticipated to begin in 2027. The airline is also considering freezing pay as existing labour agreements with unions near their expiration, potentially taking effect in April 2027. Additionally, Ryanair is contemplating boosting its use of artificial intelligence in back-office and support functions. The airline has also reduced winter flights and expects more cuts to continue through the summer of 2027, reflecting industry-wide trends, especially among short-haul carriers.",
  "summary": "Ryanair is considering a temporary wage freeze for staff and confirmed airfares will be \"materially higher\" next summer because of a sharp rise in fuel costs following the US-Israel war with Iran.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}