O’Leary said there was a “fifty-fifty” chance that he would step down at that time, The Daily Telegraph reported.
“The acid test of a really good company…is can you actually get the next management group to come through. That’s a challenge facing me and the rest of the management team here over the next five years,” he said.
O’Leary has served as chief executive since 1994.
He was speaking at a press conference to mark the carrier’s announcement of new customer service improvements as part of its “Always Getting Better” plan.
Meanwhile, O’Leary said that the Brussels terrorist attacks and air traffic control strikes would see the airline take a hit of between €10 and €20 million.
"It’s too early to say if there will be a material impact. In general, the airlines will have to lower air fares after Easter because there will still be a rump of nervousness," he told news agency Reuters.
