SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 6-K


                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer


                       Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                            For the month of May 2005

                              RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
                (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                     c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
                                 Dublin Airport
                             County Dublin Ireland
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual 
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                         Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information 
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the 
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934.

                               Yes ..... No ..X..


If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant 
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________ 





                  RYANAIR AWARDS 3% PAY INCREASE TO EMPLOYEES
               ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAY EU AIRLINES JUST GOT BETTER

Ryanair  today  (Tuesday,  17th May 2005)  confirmed  that  following a round of
direct  negotiations  with its staff in the month of April, it had implemented a
3% pay increase backdated to 1st April 2005.

This 3% increase will apply to all staff groups  across Europe who  participated
in the direct negotiations with the Company.  Only the Dublin based pilots chose
not to negotiate directly with the Company and as a result they have not at this
time enjoyed a pay increase,  however the door remains open to this group should
they choose to avail of it. All of Ryanair's other people will benefit.

Ryanair's Director of Personnel, Eddie Wilson said:

        "This salary increase is a reward for the productivity and the
        dedication of our people who continue to work hard to make Ryanair
        Europe's No 1 low fares airline. While traffic growth remains strong,
        higher oil prices mean that cost control remains vital.

        "Despite high oil prices and over capacity in many European markets,
        Ryanair will again be one of the few airlines in Europe to award salary
        increases and secure careers for our people. This pay increase
        reinforces the strength of Ryanair's model whereby people negotiate
        directly with the Company and as a result enjoy better pay and
        conditions than our low pay unionised competitors".



                                                     

                    Airline                   Average Salary*

                    Ryanair                   EUR49,992
                    Easyjet                   EUR46,901
                    Lufthansa                 EUR41,912
                    British Airways           EUR41,423



*Average salary per employee based on information from last available annual
 reports.

Ends.                         Tuesday, 17th May 2005

For further information:

Peter Sherrard - Ryanair      Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 8121228         Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                    RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC

 
Date:  17 May 2005

                                    By:___/s/ Howard Millar____

                                    H Millar
                                    Company Secretary & Finance Director