Ryanair

Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost carrier that has become Europe's largest airline by scheduled passengers, fleet size, and daily flights. Headquartered in Swords, County Dublin, the company operates a no-frills model where nearly a third of its income comes from ancillary fees, charging extra for seat selection, baggage, and airport check-in. In fiscal year 2025, Ryanair sold 208 million tickets, with average revenue of €70 per ticket against €62 in costs, solidifying its reputation as the cheapest option in European skies. The airline was founded in 1984 by Tony Ryan, Christopher Ryan, and Liam Lonergan, and its parent company, Ryanair Holdings plc, now includes subsidiaries Buzz, Malta Air, Lauda Europe, and Ryanair UK. The group manages over 650 aircraft and runs more than 3,500 short-haul flights daily to about 230 airports across 36 countries. Its main bases are at Dublin, London Stansted, and Milan Bergamo.

To keep costs low, Ryanair dynamically adjusts its network, cutting routes or reducing capacity when regional airport fees or taxes rise. The airline avoids frequent-flier programs and uses secondary airports to reduce landing fees. Longtime Group CEO Michael O'Leary, who owns about 4% of the company, often courts controversy to generate free publicity, while Eddie Wilson serves as CEO of the main operating airline, Ryanair DAC. While customer satisfaction surveys, like those from Which?, consistently rank Ryanair near the bottom, the airline dismisses these results as statistically flawed, pointing instead to its steady growth in bookings and record passenger numbers. [edit]