Ryanair Holdings has lifted a restriction barring non-European Union nationals from buying shares in the airline after it had reached the threshold of more than half of its issued share capital now owned by EU nationals.

In a March 7, 2025, note to investors, the airline said it was discontinuing the purchase prohibition "with immediate effect", allowing anyone to buy the company's ordinary shares listed on Euronext Dublin and/or depositary Shares listed on Nasdaq.

The group will continue to apply voting restrictions to ensure its compliance with EU control and ownership rules.

According to EU regulation 1008/2008, airlines based in the bloc must be majority ­owned and effectively controlled by EU nationals in order to obtain operating licences. Non-EU nationals may own a maximum of 49.9%.

With the United Kingdom's exit from the trading bloc on January 1, 2021, shares held by UK nationals were treated as restricted shares through a plan implemented by Ryanair Holdings, similar to one at Wizz Air Holdings and easyJet, to ensure effective control of their airlines remain in the hands of EU citizens. The restrictions meant holders of those shares have been unable to attend, speak at, or vote at Ryanair’s annual meetings.

The Ryanair parent said the restrictions will continue to apply to non-EU nationals until the board decides they can be lifted without risking the carriers' licences.

"Ryanair is 100% owned and controlled by EU nationals, as only shares with voting rights attached count towards equity capital," a spokesperson told ch-aviation. "Our regulator has set a minimum amount that EU nationals must hold at least 20% of issued share capital."

Ryanair said it could reintroduce the share purchase prohibition "at an appropriate time" to ensure that EU nationals own "at least 20%" of the company's issued shares.

The company's board voted to lift the ban following an ownership and control review in September 2024 which determined at the time that EU nationals would own more than 50% of the company’s issued share capital within six to twelve months.

According to The Irish Times, the share of the company held by EU citizens plunged from around 54% to 40% as existing UK shareholders became non-EU nationals after Brexit. However, the ongoing share buyback subsequently boosted its holdings by EU nationals to 48% by September 2024, group chief executive Michael O’Leary said at the group's AGM at the time.