Ryanair said traffic figures to be released later today for April will confirm the company's continuing strong growth in an increasingly tough market.
The company today also confirmed its staff would receive a 3 per cent pay increase.
This increase, which would equate to up to €2,000 extra per annum of the basic pay of pilots, will be implemented in May and will be backdated to April 1st.
Ryanair said the increase was not any indication of better times ahead, but rather "an appropriate reward" for the continued productivity gains delivered by its people.