Flying hasn't been cheaper than it is now. I don't think the industry has any real "buffer" in a case like this, and if they do, they'll be to expensive.
The crews and employees know this as well, hence why you see a lot of agreements between unions and companies in an effort to keep people employed.
Give the companies (not only Ryanair, a company everyone likes to complain about..... but still elect to fly with) some slack, at least for the time being....
Ryanair's expansion sounds like a pyramid scheme, the day they're not able to expand, they may crash.