Ryanair profits hit by severe winter weather

Ryanair reported a loss of 10.3m euros in the final quarter of 2010 after strikes and bad weather forced it to cancel 3,000 flights, BBC announced.

However, the loss was down from the 10.9m-euro deficit the Irish budget carrier recorded the year before.

The cancellations were partly offset by a 15% rise in average fares to 34 euros, and a 20% increase in sales of items such as in-flight refreshments.

There was also an increase of 6% in passenger numbers during the period.

“This small third-quarter loss of 10 million euros is disappointing, as we were on track to break even, but earnings were hit by a series of air traffic control strikes in the third quarter, compounded by a spate of bad weather airport closures in December,” said the airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, in the company's results statement.