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IN BRIEF
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Ready to shake your certainties, the turbulent Ryanair is not just a simple low cost airline making headlines with Michael O’Leary‘s punchlines. Between European pioneer, giant of figures, and proponent of sometimes bewildering ideas, it hides lesser-known facets, from its 100% Boeing 737 fleet to its stances on taxes, not forgetting a helping hand for Erasmus students. Discover 9 facts that challenge clichés and explain why, in Europe, aviation often rhymes with Ryanair.
Tired of clichés about low-cost airlines? Here’s something to set the record straight. Behind its silly jokes, sometimes bewildering ideas, and prices that challenge gravity, Ryanair hides a surprisingly structured history, sharp industrial choices, and colossal influence on European aviation. From its status as a low-cost pioneer to its Erasmus partnership, through its 100% Boeing 737 fleet and a constant battle with taxes, discover 9 surprising facts that tell how the Irish airline has upended all the rules… while filling its planes like no other.
Pioneer of European low cost
The shift that changed the European sky
Founded in 1984, Ryanair has become the archetype of the low cost airline in Europe. Initially confined to the Dublin–London route, it quickly broke the mold by multiplying point-to-point flights, adopting secondary airports, and eliminating free services to cut costs.
The main architect of this transformation? Michael O’Leary, CEO since 1994, never a founder but always iconoclastic. His vision of “pay only for what you use” has inspired an entire continent and pushed the industry to reinvent itself, sometimes gritting its teeth.
A name born from a daring entrepreneur
When Tony Ryan leaves his mark
The name Ryanair is not the result of a late marketing brainstorming session. It comes from Tony Ryan, an Irish businessman who launched a line between Ireland and London and gave his airline a simple and effective name. The rest is history: a yellow logo, full planes, and fares that have shaved down European borders.
A rough reputation… and debated fees
The flip side of cut prices
With Ryanair, the introductory prices are irresistible, but the final bill can rise quickly if you do not proceed correctly: cabin baggage, seat selection, priority boarding… So many items that travelers must navigate. Moreover, public discussion has joined in: Spain has fined several low-cost airlines, including Ryanair, regarding certain practices deemed abusive.
The most sensitive issue? Cabin baggage. Between announcements of fees up to €35 and debates about a possible evolution of the rules, it’s best to stay informed: read for example this precise point about cabin baggage at €35 and follow the news on a possible end to cabin baggage fees in Europe. And to avoid any mishaps abroad, think basic but effective: printing your boarding pass can still save a trip, especially to Morocco.
The airline also adjusts its rules over time: check this overview of new Ryanair regulations in 2025 to travel light.
One of the largest airlines in the world (yes, really)
Numbers that make your head spin
Even with a divisive image, Ryanair aligns spectacular results. More than 200 million passengers carried in 2024, a constant position in the Top 3 globally of the most used airlines (behind American giants American Airlines and Delta), and the place of number one airline in Europe by volumes.
Its fleet approaches 624 aircraft in service, with orders queued up, and a network that closely rivals global giants: about 239 destinations (March 2025) and around 2,600 daily flights. All this without long-haul flights, only within Europe and the Mediterranean region. Hats off.
A fleet 100% Boeing 737: the bet on uniformity
Maximum optimization… and assumed fragility
At Ryanair, standardization is king: a fleet 100% Boeing 737 (with a large majority of 737-800) to simplify maintenance, reduce crew training, and optimize operations. In 2023, the airline also placed a mega-order of around 300 737 MAX.
This choice makes the machine ultra-efficient… but also exposes it to the slightest industrial turbulence from the manufacturer. When Boeing sneezes, it’s Ryanair’s entire delivery schedule that catches a cold, and some new route openings may have to wait on the ground.
Zero tolerance for unruly passengers
The message is clear, and it gets across
On another front, Ryanair does not joke around with in-flight disturbances. The airline now states it will sue and convict disruptive travelers, particularly on party routes between the UK and Southern Europe. Goal: protect the tranquility of the majority of passengers and ensure reliable operations.
The principle is simple: drinking before flying does not authorize everything. The zero tolerance policy becomes a selling point for those who want to arrive on time… and peacefully.
An ally for students with Erasmus
Discounts that lighten the backpack (and the suitcase)
Less known to the general public, Ryanair‘s historical partnership with the Erasmus program allows eligible students to benefit from dedicated advantages via the airline’s website: notably a 10% discount on four one-way flights (or two round trips) and a free baggage allowance of 20 kg per booked trip. A way to make European mobility rhyme with a controlled budget.
When university paperwork lightens, the wallet breathes easier too. And that’s the best connection.
Allergic to taxes: clash in France, ambitions elsewhere
Leaving airports to conquer others
The quest for cost-cutting is part of Ryanair‘s DNA. Additional taxes – like the “solidarity tax” reintroduced in France – are regularly pointed out for their impact on fares. Result: the airline has reduced capacity at several French airports (deprogramming in Bordeaux, Brive, Bergerac, Strasbourg…), announcing up to 13% capacity cut this winter, approximately 750,000 seats less and 25 routes withdrawn.
In parallel, it is spreading its wings towards more promising markets, aided by aircraft deliveries: for example, in Albania, with the opening of a base in Tirana and a program of over thirty destinations announced as early as 2026. When the supply is limited, you have to choose your playgrounds… and Ryanair knows its priorities.
Ideas galore, sometimes delightfully provocative
Buzz, innovation, and yellow lines
From 100% online sales to the pricing model “pay for what you use,” Ryanair has often been ahead of the curve. Its communication allows for a break from convention – even suggesting one day paid toilets or standing passengers to board more people. Proposals aimed as much at provoking as at getting people talking.
Assured strategy: media buzz maintains the brand image while emphasizing a simple truth – if you do not want to pay, do not use the service. To know the current policy or to book, a visit to ryanair.com remains the best way to separate fantasy from reality.
