Irish low-cost airline Ryanair reports a loss for the six-month period April-September for the first time in decades.

The number of passengers plummeted by 80 percent and the loss for the period of 197 million euros (just over two billion kronor) can be compared with a profit of 1.15 billion euros during the same period last year.

CEO Michael O'Leary does not want to give a forecast for the full fiscal year, which ends in March 2021, but he expects the second half of the year to be worse than the one that ended in September.

Capacity will be adjusted to fly approximately 38 million passengers throughout the fiscal year, compared to 149 million a year earlier.

According to Ryanair, passenger traffic could be even lower if governments in EU countries continue with uncoordinated travel restrictions.

The last time Ryanair made a loss for a financial year was 2009, but then the company turned a profit during the summer half-year.

Source: TT