Ryanair reports record £701m loss as Covid forces it to slash flights

Airline says vaccine rollout will help it recover from the most challenging' time in its history

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Ryanair has posted the biggest annual loss in the company's 35-year history, after Covid travel restrictions and national lockdowns nearly wiped out traffic last year.

The airline swung to an 815m (701m) loss in the 12 months to 31 March, compared with a 1bn profit a year earlier, after passenger numbers plunged 81% in what it said was its most challenging" year to date.