Ryanair has made it clear their profit levels are likely to be impacted by a delay in the delivery of a new fleet of Boeing planes.

Europe's largest low-cost carrier still reported after-tax profit for the three months to the end of December.

After-tax profit for the third quarter of Ryanair's financial year was €149m, well ahead of the €60m profit forecast in a company poll of analysts.

That was mainly due to a better-than-expected 1% increase in average fares in the quarter, compared to a fall of 7% during the previous quarter, Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said.

Ryanair, which makes most of its profit during its summer season, said it was "cautiously guiding" after-tax profit for the 12 months to March 31 in a range of €1.55bn to €1.61bn.

Ryanair said it expects to take delivery of nine Boeing 737 MAX aircraft ahead of its peak summer season which is fewer than expected.

As a direct result of the deal, the airline cut its forecast for passenger numbers in the 12 months to March 31, 2026, to 206m from 210m.

Sorahan, who recently returned from a trip to Boeing's production facilities in Seattle, said the delays were disappointing but that he had a "strong level of confidence," that the nine aircraft would arrive on time.