Ryanair is an Irish airline headquartered in Dublin, with its biggest operational base situated in London Stansted Airport in the UK. It is Europe's largest low-cost carrier and it is one of the world's largest and most successful airlines (whether in terms of profits, number of flights, number of passengers flown). As of 31 July 2007, Ryanair operates 516 routes across 26 countries from from 22 bases. Ryanair has been characterised by rapid expansion, a result of the deregulation of the air industry in Europe in 1997. Over the years, it has evolved into one of the world's most profitable airlines,running at remarkable margins by passing its costs directly to its customers. Ryanair is the third largest airline in Europe in terms of passenger numbers.

Ryanair serves 516 routes from 22 hubs. Its main hub is London Stansted Airport, with 88 routes. Ryanair has other hubs throughout Europe, at Dublin, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Cork, Frankfurt-Hahn, Nantes Atlantique Airport, Girona, London Luton, Liverpool, Milan Orio al Serio, Pisa, Nottingham East Midlands, Glasgow Prestwick, Rome Ciampino, Shannon, Stockholm Skavsta, Marseille Provence, Madrid Barajas and Bremen, Ryanair have announced three new bases to open in November 2007: Bristol in England, and Alicante and Valencia, both in Spain.