Ryanair: Second wave of COVID-19 is “biggest fear right now”

Budget airline Ryanair has stressed the importance of resuming summer travel ahead of a feared second wave of COVID-19 in the autumn.

The airline has revealed its concerns in a statement alongside its results for the first quarter of FY21, in which it saw a loss of €185m.

Since the lifting of lockdown, the firm hopes to operate around 40 per cent of its normal July schedule, with an aim to rise to 70 per cent by September.

In a statement this morning, Ryanair commented: “FY21 will be a very challenging year for the Ryanair Group of airlines. It is impossible to predict how long the COVID-19 pandemic will persist, and a 2nd wave of COVID-19 cases across Europe in late autumn (when the annual flu season commences) is our biggest fear right now.

“Hopefully EU governments, by implementing effective track and tracing systems, and EU citizens by complying with recommended face masks, rigorous hand hygiene and other measures, will avoid the need for further lockdowns or restrictions on intra-EU flights.

“It is vital that European economies begin the process of recovery this summer to minimise the damage arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and this recovery can only be led by intra-EU air travel which is the engine of EU growth and economic activity.”