Ryanair has said it will pay its first ever dividend after profits hit nearly $2.2bn (£1.9bn) following increases in passenger fares.

Europe’s largest discount airline said it plans to hand over about a quarter of its annual profits to shareholders after benefitting from a record summer of passenger traffic.

The Dublin-based carrier declared its maiden dividend of €400m (£347m) as it increased passenger fares by 24pc in the six months to the end of September to an average of about €58 (£50).

This came just as it benefited from an 11pc rise in passenger numbers to 105.4m.

However, bosses warned that a significantly higher fuel bill and delays with deliveries of Boeing aircraft are having adverse effects. 

As many as 10 of the 57 Boeing 737 Max planes it had expected by the summer of next year may be delayed until winter next year, Ryanair said.

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