Ryanair pilots have been told to ease off the throttle to cut the airline’s fuel bills.
Rising aviation fuel costs represent 47 per cent of the Irish low-cost carrier’s outlay and have eaten into its profits.
It is estimated that the slower flying speeds add an extra two minutes per hour to European flight times.
The economising measure was revealed in the airline’s accounts, published yesterday, which also showed a quarter of its revenue comes from “add-on” fees for services including reserving seats, using credit cards and adding luggage.
The airline earned £308 million last year, or an average of £13.29 per passenger, from “ancillary” items.
Ryanair recently introduced a £10 fee for specific seating reservations and charges £70 for passengers who forget to print their boarding passes online.
The Times reported today that Ryanair’s profit for the three months to June was £67.5 million, a drop of 21 per cent. The airline said the heatwave in Britain had cause a slump in the number of last-minute summer breaks.
Howard Millar, Ryanair’s deputy chief executive, said: “While we’ve had the very good weather of the past couple of weeks, people are inclined to be out in the back garden, or out in the park, not at their desks in front of a hot computer.”
Mr Millar also commented on the debate about Mayor Boris Johnson’s airport proposal for the Thames Estuary, saying: “Even my golden retriever knows it’s a barmy idea.”
