Ryanair's chief executive has issued a warning to travellers planning to book a holiday.
The airline industry has been thrown into chaos as it struggles to recover after the pandemic. Staff shortages and flight caps at major airports have caused misery for many passengers planning their getaway.
The airline industry is expected to be hit by further disruption during the summer period as staff from a number of major operators are planning industrial action to protest against working conditions. Ryanair has reported a first-quarter profit despite the disruption in the travel industry.
READ MORE : TUI's warning to passengers travelling abroad this week
However, Ryanair's chief executive warned the full-year outlook for the budget airline is unpredictable and the airline industry remain concerned about the risk from new variants of coronavirus.
Michael O'Leary said: "While we remain hopeful that the high rate of vaccinations in Europe will allow the airline and tourism industry to fully recover and finally put Covid behind us, we cannot ignore the risk of new Covid variants in autumn 2022.
"Our experience with Omicron last November, and the Ukraine invasion in February, shows how fragile the air travel market remains, and the strength of any recovery will be hugely dependent upon there being no adverse or unexpected developments over the remainder of 2022-23."
Like its rivals, the group has been battling against the threat of strike action from staff over pay after it cut salaries during the pandemic, but said it has agreed deals with unions representing more than 80% of its pilots and around 70% of cabin crews.
Mr O'Leary added: "We hope to conclude agreements with the small remaining balance in the near future." The budget airline reported profits after tax of £145 million for the three months to June 30 against net losses of £233 million a year ago as passenger numbers rebounded to 45.5 million - 9% ahead of pre-Covid levels.
But profits were still "well below" levels seen in the same quarter before the pandemic in spite of the bounceback, according to the group.. The group also said it is being hampered by "unprecedented" air traffic control and airport handling disruption, but hopes to run "almost 100%" of its scheduled flights and minimise delays.
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
Drivers urged to ignore speed camera myths as AA explain how they really work
Flight attendant urges people to avoid wearing two types of clothing on plane
ITV Emmerdale's Mimi Slinger dazzles as she poses on holiday with famous boyfriend
Levi Roots' net worth and Dragon's Den's most successful businesses
Love Island stars who went back to working at Lidl, the NHS and the West End
