Ryanair Holdings plc – Annual report – 31 March 2023
Industry: airline
1. Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies (extract)
Property, plant and equipment (extract)
An element of the cost of an acquired aircraft is attributed on acquisition to its service potential, reflecting the maintenance condition of its engines and airframe. This cost, which can equate to a substantial element of the total aircraft cost, is amortized over the shorter of the period to the next maintenance check (usually between 8 and 12 years for Boeing 737 aircraft) or the remaining life of the aircraft. The costs of subsequent major airframe and engine maintenance checks are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of the period to the next check or the estimated remaining life of the aircraft.
Aircraft maintenance costs
The accounting for the cost of providing major airframe and certain engine maintenance checks for owned aircraft is described in the accounting policy for property, plant and equipment.
For aircraft held under lease agreements, Ryanair is contractually committed to either return the aircraft in a certain condition or to compensate the lessor based on the actual condition of the airframe, engines and life-limited parts upon return. In order to fulfill such conditions of the lease, maintenance, in the form of major airframe overhaul, engine maintenance checks, and restitution of major life-limited parts, is required to be performed during the period of the lease and upon return of the aircraft to the lessor. The estimated airframe and engine maintenance costs and the costs associated with the restitution of major life-limited parts, are provided for over the lease term for this contractual obligation, based on the present value of the estimated future cost of the major airframe overhaul, engine maintenance checks, and restitution of major life-limited parts, calculated by reference to the number of hours flown or cycles operated during the year. A portion of this provision is offset against the right of use asset, which is immediately depreciated as the liability is incurred as the aircraft is flown. The remaining portion of the provision, relating to normal wear and tear, is charged directly to profit and loss.
All other maintenance costs, other than major airframe overhaul, engine maintenance checks, and restitution of major life-limited parts costs associated with leased aircraft, are expensed as incurred.
Accounts examples 