Ryanair on Monday trimmed its profit forecast for the year to the end of March after some online travel agents suddenly stopped selling its flights in December, forcing it to cut fares to fill seats as costs per passenger inched up. The airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, forecast an after-tax profit of between 1.85 billion and 1.95 billion euros ($2 billion to $2.1 billion) for its financial year to March 31. That is down from its November forecast of 1.85 billion and 2.05 billion euros, but would still beat its previous record of 1.45 billion euros in 2018. Net profit for the three months to the end of December, the third quarter of its financial year, was 15 million euros, significantly lower than the 49 million euros expected by analysts polled by the company. The fallout from the travel agents' move is beginning to "fizzle out," Sorahan said, with several agents approaching the airline to secure new, more transparent deals.

---

Persons: Neil Sorahan, Sorahan, Michael O'Leary, O'Leary Organizations: Ryanair Holdings, Stansted Airport, Manchester Airport Plc, Ryanair, Boeing Locations: Stansted