Europe’s largest low-cost airline, Ryanair said it was cutting capacity by 80 per cent and had not ruled out a full grounding of its entire fleet.

“We are working with our people and our unions across all EU countries to address this extraordinary and unprecedented Covid-19 event, the impact and duration of which is, at this time, impossible to determine,” the airline said in a statement released on Monday morning.

But Chief executive, Michael O’Leary predicted that a “return to normality” would come about “sooner rather than later as EU Governments take unprecedented action to restrict the spread of Covid-19”.

The low-cost airline said that even in countries where the fleet had not been grounded, social distancing restrictions would make flying impractical, if not, impossible.

For April and May, Ryanair expects to reduce its seat capacity by 80 per cent and said “a full grounding of the fleet cannot be ruled out.”

The airline also announced that it would be waiving its flight change fee for bookings in April.