Ryanair claims annual profits soar

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair announced Tuesday that annual net profits surged by two thirds, boosted by improved customer services, rising sales and sliding oil prices.

Earnings after taxation leapt 66 percent to 866.7 million euros ($944.1 million) in the year to March 31, compared with 522.8 million euros in 2013/2014, Ryanair said in a results statement.

That beat the company's own guidance of between 840 million euros and 850 million euros.

Passenger numbers swelled by 11 percent to stand at 90.6 million customers, and revenues grew 12 percent to 5.654 billion euros.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the group's "Always Getting Better" customer services programme "has attracted millions of new customers to Ryanair".

The airline also forecast that 2015/2016 net profit would climb to a range between 940 million euros and 970 million euros.