"If we do not have certainty about the legal basis for the operation of flights between the United Kingdom and the European Union by autumn 2018, we may be forced to cancel flights and move some, or all, of our UK-based aircraft to continental Europe from April 19 onwards".
Ryanair said its profits were up 55 per cent in the three months to the end of June after average fares posted annual growth of 1 per cent in the period, largely due to the fact that Easter did not fall in the equivalent quarter previous year.
O'Leary said Ryanair did not need to order any more planes for five years, but would consider an offer if the price was right.
Shares in Ryanair fell more than 3.7 per cent in early trade on Monday after it announced strong profit growth and said that it was bidding for troubled Italian flag carrier, Alitalia.
Ryanair said the cost gap between it and its competitors "continues to widen", delivering a six per cent unit cost reduction in the first quarter with a drop in its fuel bill, despite a 12 per cent rise in traffic, due to the lower oil price.
The airline said it still expects full-year profit to fall between €1.4 billion and €1.45 billion.
German girl captured in Isis bunker facing trial in Iraq
He said there was a possibility that Linda might be put on trial in Iraq or that she also might be expelled for being a foreigner. She had been in touch with IS members and was married to one of their fighters after arriving in the group's territory.
Group chief executive Michael O'Leary hailed the performance but warned the later timing of Easter this year had slightly distorted the year-on-year comparison, boosting the quarterly performance. But added that this is "heavily dependent" on summer bookings, average fares and "the absence of any further security events, ATC strikes or negative Brexit developments".
In May this year the Ryanair Board approved a €600m ordinary share buyback programme and in the three months to 30 June the airline spent €165m under this buyback at an average price of €18.20.
Without a deal, United Kingdom airlines could lose their right to fly to and from Europe or operate within the EU.
The carrier took delivery of 14 new Boeing 737s during its first quarter and opened new bases in Frankfurt Main in Germany and Naples in Italy.
It said, like all airlines, it needs clarity before it publishes its summer 2019 schedule in the second quarter of 2018.
The airline said it continued to campaign for the United Kingdom to remain in the EU Open Skies agreement, but added that it had "contingency plans in place and will, as always, adapt to changed circumstances in the best interests of our customers and shareholders". The carrier ordered 10 additional Max 200s in June, for a total of 110, and has extended leases on 10 older 737-800s.
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