RYANAIR PROFITS INCREASE BY 17 PER CENT TO £393.4 MILLION

Ryanair has just posted a half-year profit of £393m fuelled by a 12 per cent hike in average fares and a 22% increase in ancillary revenues. In addition the airline saw a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers to 40.1 million. The low-cost carrier reported a 17 per cent increase in underlying net profits to £393.4 million for the six months to September 30 and raised its guidance for its full-year performance. Ryanair confirmed it paid out a one-off dividend of £435m to its shareholders in October. The carrier overtook Iberia this summer as the largest passenger carrier at