After suffering its first-ever netrnloss last year, Ryanair expectsrnto buck a trend in Europe byrnachieving much better financialrnresults in 2009.rnEurope's lowest low-fare carrier was driven into the red largely owing to its ill-fated investment in and takeover attempt of Aer Lingus, which did not gain sufficient support among other shareholders. More than 80% of Ryanair's €274-million ($386-million) earnings charges in the past financial year came with a write-down of its 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus, whose stock value plummeted 70% during that period.rnBut even Ryanair's operational earnings declined steeply last year, down 78% compared to the year before, although it did gain an after-tax profit of €105 million. The airline's operating margin took a drastic hit as well, sliding 15 percentage points to 5%.
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