Ryanair announce Dec-2009 and full year traffic highlights

• December traffic grew 12% to 4.9 million pax; load factor rose 2% to 82%;
• Annual traffic grew 13% to 65.3 million for calendar year 2009;
• Over 50% of year ending Mar-2011 fuel now hedged at approx USD720 per tonne;
• Annual capex to decline from GBP1.2 billion (current year) to GBP100 million p/a (year ending Mar-2013);
• There is no truth or basis to recent Irish media speculation that Ryanair is preparing a third bid for Aer Lingus. In the absence of any decision by the Irish Govt to sell its 25% stake, a third bid by Ryanair remains 'highly unlikely'.

Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, stated, "As our December traffic shows Ryanair is growing strongly and remains on course to carry over 66m passengers in the current fiscal year which makes Ryanair the world's favourite international airline. We have hedged over 50% of our fuel for the year ending March 2011 at approx USD720 per tonne. With the unsuccessful termination of our talks with Boeing for a 200 aircraft order in December, planned capital expenditure will now decline from EUR1.2 billion in the current year to as little as EUR100 million p/a in fiscal year ending March 2013. We expect our current cash reserves of EUR2.5 billion to grow substantially by March 2013 and we plan to distribute surplus cash to shareholders from that date. Our position on Aer Lingus remains unchanged. A third bid is highly unlikely unless or until the Irish Government decides to dispose of its 25% stake in this loss making, increasingly marginalised, regional carrier,"

Ryanair's December 2009 traffic stats are as follows:

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