Despite the current economic downturn in Ireland, no-frills Irish airline, Ryanair, are seeing growth in their passenger list.

Plans for the airline in the future include eliminating bag checking and cutting certain air routes.

To date about 25 percent of Ryanair passengers check their bags.

On the issue of Ryanair seeking to buy rival airline Aer Lingus, chief executive Michael O'Leary, said his company will not pursue a third bid unless the Irish government contact him with an offer.

Last week Britain's Office of Fair Trading began a probe into Ryanair's stake in Aer Lingus.

However, O'Leary described the probe was a "wild goose chase."

The budget airline said it has paid back most of the claims that arose from the ash cloud crises but the figure paid out was a lot less than anticipated, about €18 million less.

Other statistics from the airline show that average fares rose 12 percent to €44.

Passenger numbers are up for the airline.

Over 40 million passengers have used the airline, a growth of 10 percent in the past six months.

O'Leary plans to reduce the number of aircraft from 11 to eight out of Frankfurt Hahn in Germany because of the €8 air travel tax. 

"The thing that has impressed most about the continued capacity contraction around Europe is the extent to which the main airports are now talking to us and trying to encourage us to fly to and from (them)," O’Leary said.