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Ryanair warns of years-long impact on European travel from Russian drones

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 9:34 GMT by reuters.com
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Ryanair Warns of Years‑Long Disruption to European Air Travel Amid Russian Drone Threat

Dublin, 12 September 2025 — Ryanair, the continent’s largest low‑cost carrier, has issued a stark warning that the escalating use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by Russia could wreak havoc on European air traffic for years to come. In a briefing to its shareholders and a statement released to the press, the airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Neill, underscored the “persistent threat” posed by drones that have already been used in conflict zones across eastern Europe.

A Real‑World Risk

The warning follows a string of high‑profile drone incidents over the last year, most notably the sighting of a Russian‑manufactured drone near Linate Airport in Milan on 20 May, which forced a temporary halt to commercial traffic and triggered a full‑scale emergency response. Similar alerts have been issued by the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after a drone was detected in flight over London Heathrow’s approach corridor. While no commercial aircraft has yet been struck, the potential for a catastrophic collision has prompted aviation regulators to scramble to tighten security protocols.

Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Neill, told the company’s annual general meeting that the “drone menace is not a temporary hiccup but a long‑term hazard that will shape our operating environment for years.” He cited a recent briefing by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which has warned that “the probability of a drone‑related incident in a major European airport is rising sharply.”

Implications for the Airline Industry

Ryanair operates some 1,800 aircraft across 40 countries, carrying more than 200 million passengers annually. According to the airline’s latest financial report, the company faced a €150 million hit in 2024 from operational delays and additional safety measures. The current drone threat could push costs higher, as airlines look to purchase advanced radar systems, deploy ground‑based detection equipment, and train crews for rapid response.

Industry analysts say that the financial ripple effect could reach as high as €5 billion per year for the EU aviation sector. “The cost isn’t just in direct safety upgrades,” says Elena Petrovic, an aviation risk specialist at the European Airlines Association. “You’re also looking at increased insurance premiums, more expensive fuel hedging as delays accumulate, and compensation payouts to stranded passengers.”

Ryanair has already announced plans to invest €200 million in “state‑of‑the‑art drone detection technology” across its hubs in Dublin, London, and Madrid. The investment will include low‑frequency radar capable of spotting small UAVs and a dedicated rapid‑response team trained to neutralise drone threats on the ground.

Regulatory Response

In the wake of the Linate incident, the European Commission released a set of interim guidelines for drone operations near airports. The guidelines, published on 4 August, require all operators of drones larger than 2 kg to register with national authorities and to obtain an “airspace clearance” before flying over populated or aviation‑heavy zones. A draft of the EU’s new “Drone Security Act,” currently in legislative consultation, could impose heavy fines for operators who violate these rules.

EASA’s director general, Dr. Klaus Richter, confirmed that the agency is accelerating the rollout of its new “Drone Threat Mitigation Framework” which will be mandatory for all EU member states by 2027. The framework will include real‑time surveillance, automated conflict‑avoidance algorithms for aircraft, and a unified European drone‑blacklist database.

“Even as we work on these long‑term solutions, we cannot ignore the present reality,” says Richter. “Airlines, airports, and regulators must collaborate on rapid‑response strategies.”

Broader Geopolitical Context

The heightened drone activity comes amid Russia’s continued use of UAVs in the war against Ukraine, where drones have been employed both for intelligence gathering and for targeted strikes on military assets. Ukrainian defence officials warned in a June briefing that similar tactics could be directed at civilian infrastructure, including airports, if Russia’s strategic objectives broaden.

International civil aviation bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), have called for a “global framework” to coordinate drone surveillance across national borders. Meanwhile, NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO) is reportedly developing a joint drone‑detection system that could be deployed across European airbases.

Looking Forward

For Ryanair, the warning comes at a time of both growth and uncertainty. The airline’s share price fell 4.3 % in early trading after the announcement, as investors weighed the immediate costs of security upgrades against the longer‑term risk of disruption. The company has assured its customers that it will not raise fares unless absolutely necessary, citing “our commitment to low‑cost travel.” Nevertheless, the possibility of flight cancellations and reroutes is a looming threat that could erode consumer confidence.

In the months ahead, airlines will be forced to confront an increasingly complex threat landscape that blends conventional warfare with the stealth of unmanned aircraft. Ryanair’s candid assessment is a bellwether for the industry’s shift toward a new era of aviation security—one in which the invisible drones of the sky may loom larger than the planes that carry us on the ground.