Ryanair, founded in 1984 by Tony Ryan, Christopher Ryan, and Liam Lonergan, is an Irish low-cost airline. It began operations in 1985 with a single route between Waterford, Ireland, and London Gatwick. Ryanair Holdings was established in 1996 as a holding company. The airline has grown to become the largest in Europe by passenger numbers, fleet size, and number of flights. As of February 2026, Ryanair operates over 3,600 daily flights to over 240 destinations in 40 countries. The company's headquarters are in Swords, County Dublin, Ireland, with primary operational bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports.
Michael O'Leary has been the Group CEO of Ryanair since 2019, having previously served as CEO since 1994. Ryanair employs over 27,000 aviation professionals. Ryanair primarily operates Boeing 737 aircraft and is known for its no-frills service and focus on low fares. The company's business model relies on ancillary revenues from services like priority boarding, baggage fees, and seat selection. Recently, Ryanair launched its Summer 2026 schedule at Glasgow, including new routes to London Stansted and Warsaw Modlin. Ryanair is forecasting 198–205 million passengers for FY2025.
