Ryanair CEO pledges not to hit passengers with fuel surcharge

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline will not levy a fuel surcharge even as jet fuel prices remain higher. Speaking in London on Sept. 23, he predicted rival carriers will add surcharges next summer and warned that elevated costs could accelerate airline failures and route cuts. Ryanair trimmed its FY2027 passenger forecast from 216 million to 214 million, citing planned capacity limits to reduce the impact of its small share of unhedged jet fuel. O’Leary said most airlines were hedged into summer 2026, but few could absorb higher prices afterward, pushing consolidation toward four large carriers: BA, Lufthansa, Air France and Ryanair.