Irish budget airline Ryanair Holdings PLC raised its full-year profit forecast on Thursday, citing stronger than expected passenger bookings in recent weeks.

Ryanair, Europe's biggest low cost carrier, said it was lifting its profit after tax guidance for the year ended March 31 to "not less than" 310 million euros ($418 million), up from the previously forecast 275 million euros.

The airline said the revision followed "somewhat stronger than expected passenger bookings, at better than expected yields, during late February and March in the run up to the Easter holiday weekend."

Ryanair is scheduled to release its full-year earnings on June 1.