Ryanair expects air passenger numbers to bounce back in 2021

Budget airline defies industry predictions that recovery from pandemic will take years

Ryanair expects air passenger numbers to bounce back to near normal levels by next summer, defying industry predictions that it could take years for growth to return after the pandemic.

The airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, said passenger volumes should reach 75-80% of pre-Covid levels in 2021, especially if a vaccine was developed by the spring.