As the peak summer holiday season approaches, holiday companies and airlines are talking about booking patterns and pricing.

Business Editor Ian McConnell takes a look at what is happening on the flights and holidays front.

There was much to pore over in Ryanair’s latest financial results announcement.

Eye-catching of course was news that the airline is in talks with its high-profile chief executive, Michael O’Leary, about staying on until 2032.

This was no huge surprise, given Mr O’Leary’s huge stage presence and impressive results.

As it announced full-year results on Monday, Ryanair revealed: “This spring, the board commenced discussions with Michael O’Leary on an extension of his employment contract with the group - currently ends 2028 - until April 2032.

“These discussions have almost concluded and engagement with the group’s largest institutional shareholders will commence in the coming days.”

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at stockbroker AJ Bell, highlighted his belief that a four-year extension to Mr O’Leary’s contract would receive a broad welcome among major Ryanair shareholders.

Mr Coatsworth said: “Ryanair is now set to discuss leadership with its biggest shareholders, and it is hard to imagine any would object to O’Leary staying on longer. He has been the driving force behind significant strategic progress, keeping a lid on costs while continuously finding new ways to earn from customers.”

Mr O’Leary has indeed found “new ways to earn from customers”, continuously.

That said, this has enabled Ryanair’s profitability and growth and allowed many people to undertake trips they might otherwise have been unable to make, with the connectivity and fares the budget airline has brought to the market.

It was interesting, as well, to hear what Ryanair had to say on Monday about the pricing of its flights recently, amid the Middle East conflict.

Ryanair highlighted its “cost advantage” over some other airlines in Europe in terms of........

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