By Conor Humphries
DUBLIN, May 26 (Reuters) - Ryanair reported a 66percent jump in profit after tax for the year to March afterpassenger numbers grew almost three times the targeted level,and forecast another rise in profit this year as improvingservice boosted load factors.
The Irish airline, Europe's largest airline by passengernumbers, said profit after tax was 867 million euros and wouldreach between 940 million and 970 million this year. Passengernumbers increased 11 percent to 90 million, compared to the 4percent growth targeted at the start of the year.
Most of the growth was down to its improved customer servicethat has brought in lower fees, flexible tickets for businesstravellers and a move away from small regional airports and thatthis would continue in the year ahead, Ryanair said.
"Thanks to our lowest fares, our growth into primaryairports and the remarkable impact of our 'Year 1 Always GettingBetter' programme, we continue to experience strong demand andforward booking momentum," Chief Executive Michael O'Leary saidin a statement.
Ryanair said its fares would be "broadly flat" in the sixmonths to September. Its main rival easyJet has saidrevenue per seat would be down by about four percentage pointsin the three months to June.
Ryanair expects to increase passenger numbers by 10 percentin the year to March 2016, with around half of this at primaryairports and about half at smaller regional airports.
Forward bookings to September are on average 4 percent aheadof last year, it said.
Ryanair's share price closed at 10.88 euros on Monday, up 58percent compared to a year ago. That compared to an increase ofjust 1 percent at easyJet and 3 percent in the Thomson ReutersEurope Airlines Index. (Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
easyJet (EZJ)