The low-cost carrier also delivered 12% traffic growth to 65 million customers and a 2% jump in load factor to 95%.

Ryanair also claimed average fares fell 10% to €50.  

The long term traffic forecast has been raised by more than 10% from 180 million to more than 200 million annual customers by March 2024.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, said: “We are pleased to report this 7% increase in half one profits, which was a creditable performance in difficult market conditions due to repeated ATC [air traffic control] strikes, terror events, and the adverse economic impact of the Brexit vote in June, which saw Sterling weaken materially over the peak summer period.

“We responded by accelerating our Always Getting Better customer experience programme, and using our lower costs base to stimulate stronger forward bookings with lower fares.”
 
This winter Ryanair will take delivery of 31 new Boeing 737-800s and will open six more bases in Bucharest, Bournemouth, Hamburg, Nuremberg, Prague and Vilnius.

Its base in Berlin will grow from five to nine aircraft.

The carrier’s 2017 schedule will see it add more than 80 new routes and a new two-aircraft base at Frankfurt am Main airport.
 
The carrier said that during the first half of 2016 it observed “a growing trend of competitors closing bases and routes where they are unable to compete with Ryanair’s lower fares” and expects this trend to continue.

It said the trend is encouraging more primary airports to incentivise Ryanair to grow while their incumbents are cutting.

The airline said it will make membership of “My Ryanair” automatic for all customer bookings so that it can “tailor services and improve offers for each customer”. It added 93% of all customers are now booking directly on Ryanair.com.
 
The airline said in its update that it “remained cautious”.

“We have delivered a strong first half but weaker air fares and Brexit uncertainty will be the dominant features of the second half of this year," it said. 

“Having hedged both our fuel and sterling exposures, we remain comfortable with our revised full-year guidance of €1.30 billion to €1.35 billion.

“However, with limited quarter four visibility, and the absence of Easter from quarter four, we expect fares will continue to fall, so this guidance is heavily dependent upon there being no unexpected adverse declines in quarter four fares.”