Low-cost airline survey revisited: strong year for Ryanair

Irish budget carrier Ryanair unveiled increased profits for 2010 yesterday - and chief executive Michael O'Leary had some very interesting things to say about the year ahead, which includes the carrier cutting capacity over the winter months for the first time in its history in a bid to hang on to first half gains amid higher fuel costs. READ AN ARTICLE ON IT HERE.

In our May issue of Airline Business we published our latest annual low-cost airline survey - based on airline results over the last 12 months. Taking a snapshot of a global industry, with differing financial years, is always something of a moving target. The picture will vary slightly depending on when the music stops. Our survey comes out before those airlines with a March ending financial year had reported their results for 2010/11, and because the last year featured a strong traffic recovery and as Ryanair has introduced some longer, higher-yielding routes, its interesting to see how the Irish carrier compares with its latest results.

The answer is, while already number two low-cost carrier the world by passenger number, Ryanair also moves up from fourth biggest to second behind US low-cost giant Southwest Airlines by revenues based on the 2010/11 financial year figures. It also underscores its profitability - operating profits increased from $568 million in 2009/10 to $686 million - again behind only Southwest. 

Top 5 low-cost carriers after December 2010 financial year closed

Airline                          Revenue         Op result    Year ending

Southwest Airlines         $12.1bn          $988m        Dec 10

Air Berlin                       $4.9bn           -$12m         Dec 10

EasyJet                        $4.6bn            $271m        Sep 10

Ryanair                         $4.2bn            $568m        Mar 10

Gol                               $4.0bn            $387m        Dec 10

Top 5 low-cost carriers after March 2011 financial year closed

Airline                          Revenue         Op result    Year ending

Southwest Airlines         $12.1bn          $988m        Dec 10

Ryanair                         $5.1bn            $686m        Mar 11

Air Berlin                       $4.9bn           -$12m         Dec 10

EasyJet                        $4.6bn            $271m        Sep 10

Gol                               $4.0bn            $387m        Dec 10

It will be interesting to see how things stand when easyJet completes its financial year in September.

For much more on the leading low-cost carriers, the evolution of the sector, future challenges and to test your own low-cost carrier knowledge with our cryptic picture quiz, check out our interactive special, the essential guide to low-cost airlines here.