History of Ryanair in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost airline founded in 1984, which has grown to become Europe's largest carrier by passenger numbers. The company revolutionized the aviation industry by pioneering the low-cost carrier model, characterized by point-to-point flights, the use of secondary airports, and aggressive cost-cutting measures. By unbundling services—charging separately for baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding—Ryanair maintains exceptionally low base fares, making air travel accessible to a massive segment of the population. Headquartered in Dublin, the airline operates an extensive network spanning Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, primarily utilizing a uniform fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft to optimize maintenance and training efficiency. Despite its success and rapid expansion, Ryanair frequently faces scrutiny regarding its labor relations, customer service policies, and environmental impact. Nevertheless, its relentless focus on operational efficiency and volume-driven profitability remains a benchmark for the global budget airline industry.

1936: Birth of Ryanair Founders

In 1936, both Christopher Ryan and Tony Ryan, two of the key founding figures who would later establish the company in November 1984, were born.

1956: Birth of Eugene O'Neill

Eugene O'Neill, who served as the inaugural chief executive of Ryanair, was born in 1956.

November 1984: Incorporation of Danren Enterprises

On 28 November 1984, the company that would later become Ryanair was formally incorporated under the name Danren Enterprises by founders Christopher Ryan, Tony Ryan, Declan Ryan, and Liam Lonergan.

1984: Founding of Ryanair

In 1984, the airline Ryanair was officially established by founders Christopher Ryan and Tony Ryan, with the company name derived from their surnames.

July 1985: Launch of Ryanair's inaugural flight service

On 8 July 1985, the airline officially rebranded as Ryanair and commenced its first commercial flight between Waterford and Gatwick Airport using an Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft.

September 1985: Expansion of Ryanair flight frequency

As of September 1985, the newly established airline increased its operations to maintain a schedule of 9 weekly flights on the Waterford to Gatwick route.

1985: Declan Ryan joins the board

Starting in 1985, Declan Ryan served as a member of the board of directors for Ryanair, a role he held until his departure in 2003.

1986: Acquisition of London European Airways

In 1986, Ryanair secured an 85% stake in London European Airways through a financial rescue package valued at £630,000.

1986: Ryanair Launches Dublin-Luton Route and Initiates Price Competition

In 1986, following partial European Economic Community (EEC) deregulation, Ryanair bypassed Irish government opposition with British approval to launch its second route connecting Dublin and Luton. By utilizing two Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft, the airline challenged the existing duopoly of Aer Lingus and British Airways, sparking a price war that saw fares drop significantly below the legacy carrier rates.

April 1987: Re-launch of London European Airways

During April 1987, London European Airways was officially re-launched by Ryanair using a leased BAC One-Eleven aircraft.

May 1987: Route Expansion to Amsterdam and Brussels

In May 1987, the airline expanded its operational network by launching new flight routes connecting Luton to both Amsterdam and Brussels.

September 1987: Termination of Eugene O'Neill

In September 1987, Tony Ryan terminated the employment of Ryanair's first chief executive, Eugene O'Neill, leading O'Neill to file a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal.

1987: Financial Loss and Network Expansion

In 1987, Ryanair faced a significant financial setback with a recorded loss of £3 million, while simultaneously undergoing operational changes including the wet leasing of BAC One-Eleven aircraft from TAROM and the expansion of its flight network to 15 scheduled routes.

January 1988: Rebranding to Ryanair Europe

As of January 1988, the entity underwent a corporate rebranding and became known as Ryanair Europe.

1988: Michael O'Leary joins Ryanair and expansion of fleet and services

In 1988, Michael O'Leary transitioned from his role at KPMG to join Ryanair as a financial assistant and subsequently Chief Financial Officer. During the same year, the airline expanded its operations by leasing ATR 42-300 aircraft from Guinness Peat Aviation and introduced a new business class service alongside a frequent-flyer program.

1989: Short Sandringham Sponsorship Proposal

In 1989, Ryanair painted a Short Sandringham flying boat with its corporate livery to sponsor the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, though the aircraft never operated any commercial revenue-generating flights for the airline.

1990: Ryanair Strategic Restructuring and Low-Cost Transformation

During 1990, after accumulating £20 million in losses, Ryanair underwent a major strategic transformation inspired by Southwest Airlines. Under the guidance of Michael O'Leary, the company adopted a low-cost model, streamlined its fleet to focus on the Boeing 737, reduced its route network from 19 to 6 destinations, and moved its primary base from Luton to London Stansted. Additionally, Tony Ryan provided a £20 million capital injection to support these changes, which included implementing a buy-on-board program and aiming for 745,000 annual passengers.

May 1991: Dissolution of London European Airways

The operations of London European Airways were formally concluded in May 1991 when the entity was dissolved.

1991: Strategic Expansion at London Stansted

In 1991, in response to a drop in travel demand caused by the Gulf War, Ryanair reduced ticket prices and expanded its services at London Stansted Airport, successfully achieving a total profit of £293,000 for that year.

1992: Passenger Milestone

During the year 1992, Ryanair successfully transported a total of 945,000 passengers across its network.

1992: Establishment of the EU Single Aviation Market

In 1992, the European Union established the Single Aviation Market, a move that provided low-cost carriers like Ryanair with new opportunities to expand their operations across member states.

January 1994: Fleet Expansion and Leadership Change

In January 1994, Ryanair reached two major milestones: the airline took delivery of its very first Boeing 737 aircraft, and Michael O'Leary was appointed as the company's sixth chief executive officer, transitioning from its previous ownership by the sons of Tony Ryan.

1995: Ryanair surpasses 2 million annual passengers

In 1995, the airline Ryanair reached a significant operational milestone by transporting more than 2 million passengers throughout the year.

1996: Establishment of Ryanair Holdings

In 1996, Ryanair Holdings was officially established to serve as the parent holding company for the airline Ryanair.

April 1997: Airline Deregulation and Removal of Cabotage

In April 1997, the airline industry underwent significant deregulation and the removal of cabotage restrictions, which further enabled the expansion of low-cost airline models such as Ryanair.

May 1997: Ryanair Initial Public Offering

In May 1997, Ryanair successfully transitioned into a public company by launching an initial public offering on the Dublin and NASDAQ stock exchanges to fuel European expansion. As part of this transition, all employees were granted free shares in the airline.

1998: Expansion of Ryanair European routes

In 1998, Ryanair significantly expanded its international footprint by launching new scheduled flight services to Stockholm, Sandefjord Airport, Torp, Beauvais–Tillé, and Charleroi.

May 1999: Ryan family and Michael O'Leary sell shares

In May 1999, the Ryan family reduced their company stake to 17.1% by selling 10.5% of the company for approximately £117 million, while Michael O'Leary sold 1.5% of the company, lowering his stake to 10.8% and gaining about £17 million.

March 2000: Ryanair Route Expansion and Website Launch

As of March 2000, Ryanair had expanded its operations to cover 33 distinct routes. Additionally, in 2000, the airline launched its first official website, which was developed by a teenage entrepreneur for a cost of IR£20,000, though management initially underestimated the impact the online booking engine would have on the company's future.

2000: Pilot Share Value Appreciation

By the year 2000, the equity provided to Ryanair staff during the 1997 IPO had grown significantly in value, with many pilots holding shares worth more than £100,000.

2000: Ryanair Forbes Global 2000 Ranking

In 2000, Ryanair achieved a notable position as it was ranked 790th on the Forbes Global 2000 list, reflecting its scale and market presence during that year.

December 2001: Go Fly withdraws service from Dublin

In December 2001, the airline Go Fly ceased its flight operations from Dublin, driven by the intense market competition posed by Ryanair.

2001: Shift to Online Bookings

By the conclusion of 2001, the airline experienced a significant digital transformation, with 75% of all flight bookings being processed through their online platform.

January 2002: Order of 155 Boeing 737-800 Aircraft

In January 2002, Ryanair placed a significant order for 155 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, securing a major discount following the market downturn post-September 11.

April 2003: Acquisition of Buzz

In April 2003, Ryanair expanded its market presence by purchasing the struggling airline competitor Buzz from KLM for a sum of approximately €20 million.

June 2003: Resignation of Declan Ryan and share reduction

In June 2003, internal disputes between Michael O'Leary and the founding Ryan family resulted in Declan Ryan resigning from his position on the Ryanair board of directors, while the Ryan family simultaneously reduced their total shareholding in the company to 55 million shares.

August 2003: Market competition between Ryanair and MyTravelLite

In August 2003, MyTravelLite began competing with Ryanair on the Birmingham to Dublin flight route, prompting Ryanair to launch retaliatory flights on MyTravelLite's routes until the competitor eventually exited the market.

May 2004: EU Enlargement Facilitates Expansion

In May 2004, the expansion of the European Union opened up new market opportunities, allowing Ryanair to successfully introduce and operate several new flight routes.

September 2004: EasyJet Enters the Irish Market

In September 2004, the airline competitor EasyJet officially announced its entry into the Irish market, specifically launching a new route connecting Cork to London Gatwick.

October 2004: Shutdown of Buzz

Following its acquisition the previous year, the airline Buzz was officially shut down in October 2004.

2005: Delivery Milestone and Production Delays

By the end of 2005, Ryanair had received approximately 100 of their ordered aircraft, a process that faced minor setbacks due to a Boeing machinists' strike that occurred in late 2005.

February 2006: Dispatches Documentary Criticism

In February 2006, the Channel 4 series Dispatches aired a documentary titled "Ryanair caught napping," which raised concerns regarding Ryanair's staff training, security measures, and aircraft cleanliness. The airline disputed these claims, asserting that the evidence presented—specifically a photo of a flight attendant asleep—was staged.

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May 2006: Guardian Criticism of Aviation Insurance Levy

During May 2006, The Guardian newspaper reported on Ryanair's practice of charging a £3.15 "aviation insurance levy" on ticket prices, arguing that the majority of the collected funds were retained as profit by the company rather than covering insurance costs.

2006: EasyJet Withdraws Irish Routes

In 2006, facing stiff competition from Ryanair, EasyJet made the decision to cancel its flights between Gatwick and Cork, Shannon, and Knock, as well as the Luton to Shannon route.

2007: Death of Tony Ryan

Following an offer to resign earlier in the decade, Tony Ryan remained a member of the Ryanair board of directors until he passed away in 2007.

2007: Death of Founders Christopher and Tony Ryan

In 2007, both Christopher Ryan and Tony Ryan, the individuals who played instrumental roles in the 1984 incorporation of the airline, passed away.

2009: Go Fly withdraws service from Dublin again

Following previous competitive pressures, Go Fly once again withdrew its service from the Dublin route in 2009, largely due to the sustained market dominance of Ryanair.

2010: Completion of Boeing 737-800 Delivery Schedule

The delivery window for the 155 Boeing 737-800 aircraft ordered in 2002 reached its conclusion in 2010, marking the end of an eight-year fleet expansion period.

2018: Death of Eugene O'Neill

Eugene O'Neill, the former managing director of the Sunday Tribune and Ryanair's first CEO, passed away in 2018.

2025: Annual Ticket Sales Milestone

In 2025, Ryanair achieved a significant milestone by selling 208 million airline tickets, maintaining an average revenue of €70 per ticket against costs of €62.