European air fares could rise by as much as 20% in 2027, Ryanair boss predicts
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has warned that European airfares could surge by up to 20% in 2027 due to rising jet fuel costs driven by the conflict in the Middle East. With many airlines lacking sufficient fuel hedging for that period, industry leaders anticipate potential bankruptcies and significant route reductions across the continent.
Why it matters
This projected price hike threatens to disrupt European travel affordability and could trigger a wave of consolidation or insolvency among major carriers struggling with volatile energy markets.
Ryanair and many other European airlines had hedged their jet fuel requirements for 2026, O’Leary said. Ryanair and many other European airlines had hedged their jet fuel requirements for 2026, O’Leary said. Airline industry European air fares could rise by as much as 20% in 2027, Ryanair boss predicts Conflict in Middle East is pushing jet fuel costs higher and many carriers are not hedged against such increases, Michael O’Leary says
Prefer the Guardian on Google Ryanair’s chief executive has predicted a record increase in European air fares next year, as airlines grapple with fuel bills pushed higher by the Middle East conflict.
Many carriers are not hedged against rising jet fuel costs, Michael O’Leary said, which he predicted would lead to airline bankruptcies and takeovers. He forecast these pressures would result in the price of plane tickets rising by as much as 20%.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in