Ryanair doubles annual loss forecast on Omicron

Sombre mood: Two Ryanair planes are seen on the tarmac of Marseille-Marignane airport in southern France. The Irish low-cost airline has cut its January traffic estimate by 33% due to travel restrictions. — AFP

DUBLIN: Ryanair has more than doubled its annual loss forecast and cut its January traffic estimate by 33%, blaming travel restrictions in France, Germany and Morocco following the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

But it said it was too soon to say whether similar cuts would be required to its February and March schedules and would wait for further scientific data before making any decisions.