Ryanair warns that airfares are poised to surge if high oil prices persist until 2570.

Ryanair's CEO warned that airfares could rise if oil prices remain high until 2570, driven by tensions in the Middle East.

On September 10, 2026, at 4:12 PM, CNBC reported that Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, a major European low-cost airline, warned that airfares could rise significantly if oil prices remain high well into next year, as soaring aviation fuel costs are putting pressure on the airline industry.

O'Leary told reporters ahead of the company's annual shareholder meeting that Ryanair expects a slight decline in fares in the second quarter of the fiscal year, which covers July through September, but that fare trends in the quarter covering December and March remain highly uncertain.

“If oil prices remain high into next year, I think we will see a significant increase in airfares, and we hope to avoid that,” O'Leary said.

The warning comes amid high global oil prices, amid concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East and their potential impact on global energy supply.

Brent crude oil prices remained above $100 per barrel on Thursday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 1.4% to $97.40 per barrel.

The surge in oil prices is putting increased pressure on airlines' fuel costs, one of their key operating expenses. If oil prices remain high, Ryanair anticipates that this pressure could be passed on to airfares towards the end of the year and into 2570.

However, for the period of July to September, Ryanair still expects only a slight decrease in fares, with the main uncertainty lies in the period of December to March, where the direction of oil prices will be one of the key factors affecting future airfare trends.

Reference: cnbc.com

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