Ryanair has announced the launch of a new annual subscription service, offering customers reserved seating, travel insurance, and access to monthly seat sales for €79 per year.
The Irish carrier, which holds the highest passenger numbers in Europe, said the new "Prime" membership will initially be capped at 250,000 subscribers. If fully subscribed, the programme would generate €19.75 million annually.
The move marks a new step in Ryanair’s ancillary revenue strategy, positioning it alongside competitors such as Wizz Air, which launched its own fixed-fee travel pass in 2023.
Wizz Air’s "All You Can Fly" subscription offers unlimited flights for an annual fee, initially priced at €499 for the first 10,000 passes, with a standard fee set at €599. Passholders are charged a nominal booking fee per flight and are required to book at least three days in advance.
Unlike Wizz Air’s offering, however, Ryanair’s Prime subscription includes travel insurance as a bundled feature. Under Wizz Air’s model, services such as baggage allowance, seat selection and travel insurance are not included in the subscription and must be purchased separately.
Outside of the planned “Prime” pass, Ryanair provides travel insurance products that cover a range of risks, including trip cancellation or curtailment, emergency medical expenses, baggage loss or delays, and personal liability for injury or property damage during travel.
The airline works with insurance partners to distribute these products. In 2021, Ryanair partnered with Cover Genius to embed insurance coverage into its booking system. This collaboration was intended to offer customised protection packages to passengers.
Before that, Ryanair offered multi-trip annual insurance in partnership with Europ Assistance. This programme, introduced in 2017, provided cover for unlimited European travel lasting up to 28 days per trip.
Elsewhere, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued guidance for travellers facing disruption following the closure of Heathrow Airport earlier this month.
The sector has urged affected travellers to check their policies and contact insurers to clarify their coverage for trip cancellations or delays. Travel insurance policies vary, but many include provisions for trip disruption, particularly in cases where flights are cancelled due to unforeseen events.
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