RYANAIR’S ANNUAL 20-F statement filed last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States sheds some light on a number of aspects of the business.

For example, the airline spent €5.5 million in the 12 months to the end of March 2008 on de-icing costs, up from €4.6 million a year earlier.

“De-icing costs, which are incurred for the labour and anti-freeze used to de-ice aircraft, have increased significantly in recent years as the company’s route network, types of aircraft operated and number of sectors flown have increased,” Ryanair said.

The document also notes Ryanair’s total break-even load factor was 67 per cent last year, an increase of one percentage point on the previous year.

The filing also gives an insight into how Ryanair staff are remunerated. About 48 per cent of a flight attendant’s total pay is earned by way of commission from inflight sales.

About 39 per cent of the total earnings of pilots, meanwhile, is made up of payments relating to the number of hours or sectors flown.

Fortunately for cabin crew, Ryanair’s ancillary revenues have soared in recent years. A breakdown provided in the document shows that inflight sales rose by 15 per cent to €73.3 million.

Non-flight scheduled revenues – the sale of rail and bus tickets, travel insurance, hotel reservations, excess baggage charges and credit card fees – increased to €344.6 million last year from €241.9 million in the previous 12 months.

Car hire income rose by 10 per cent to €25.2 million while internet revenue relating to the Ryanair.com website increased by 48 per cent to €54.9 million.

The document also indicates that Ryanair’s eight executive officers – who are not members of the board – earned an average €462,500 each in “compensation” last year.

This would include deputy chief executives Michael Cawley and Howard Millar.