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The moment is notable for what it unlocks. Without debt-service obligations, the carrier's entire 620-aircraft fleet sits unencumbered — meaning no aircraft is pledged as collateral — which management says widens its cost advantage over leveraged competitors . The fleet stood at 647 total aircraft at financial year-end, including all 210 of its fuel-efficient B737-8200 "Gamechangers" .

A record year by the numbers

Ryanair reported results for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2026 on 18 May. Key figures from the FY26 earnings release :

• Profit after tax (pre-exceptional): €2.26 billion, a 40% jump from €1.61 billion in FY25.
• Total revenue: €15.54 billion, up 11% year on year.
• Passenger traffic: 208.4 million, up 4% despite lingering Boeing delivery delays.
• Average fare: €51, a 10% increase that reversed the 7% fare decline booked the prior year.
• Gross cash at year-end: €3.6 billion, after funding €1.9 billion in capital expenditures, €1.2 billion in debt repayments, and more than €900 million in shareholder distributions.

Ancillary revenue — bags, seat selection, and other add-ons — climbed 6% to €4.99 billion, or roughly €24 per passenger . Operating costs rose a modest 6%, limited to a 1% increase on a per-passenger basis.

Investment-grade credibility

Both S&P and Fitch rate Ryanair at BBB+ with a stable outlook, a level the company has maintained across multiple quarters . The ratings agencies cite the unencumbered fleet, strong cash generation, and a €1.1 billion undrawn revolving credit facility that runs to 2030 as key supports .

Where Ryanair goes next

Freed of bond payments, management is pivoting to growth. The near-term target is 216 million passengers in FY27, about 4% growth over FY26 .

The longer ambition is more aggressive. Ryanair aims to carry 300 million passengers annually by 2034, a goal CEO Michael O'Leary has tied directly to the upcoming Boeing 737 MAX-10 . The airline placed an order for up to 300 of the jets — 150 firm plus 150 options — in May 2023 .

Boeing MAX-10 timeline

• Certification: Boeing aims to secure FAA approval for the MAX-10 in late summer 2026 (the third quarter) .
• First deliveries: Boeing has written to Ryanair confirming that the first 15 aircraft should arrive in spring 2027, in line with original contract dates .
• Fleet impact: The MAX-10 will seat 228 passengers in Ryanair's configuration — 21% more than the older 737NG — while burning 20% less fuel, a combination management describes as transformative for unit costs .

Ryanair has accelerated pilot recruitment, budgeting approximately €25 million annually for training, to ensure it can deploy the new jets as soon as they land .

While Boeing's production recovery has been uneven — earlier Gamechanger delays forced a downward revision of FY26 traffic targets in January 2025 — the airline now says all 210 Gamechanger aircraft are delivered and the MAX-10 timeline remains intact .

The broader picture

Ryanair's debt-free status does not mean the carrier will stop borrowing. Management retains a €1.1 billion revolving credit facility and has indicated it may use attractive financing for future aircraft orders or opportunistic buybacks . But for the first time since going public, the airline has no mandatory bond redemptions on the horizon.

The development puts Ryanair in a select group of airlines that own most of their fleet outright, a structure that provides insulation in downturns and full flexibility for capacity decisions. As the group heads into summer with a clean balance sheet and 620 unencumbered aircraft, the focus is now squarely on the MAX-10 ramp and the path to 300 million passengers.