Ryanair Summer Flights at Risk Due to Boeing Delays

DALLAS — Ryanair (FR) has warned passengers that a global shortage of new aircraft, caused by Boeing production delays, could result in the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the UK next summer.

Michael O'Leary, the CEO of the Irish airline, expressed "short-term" frustration on Wednesday that his airline won't get all 30 jets. At an industry conference in Brussels, he cautioned that this would lead to a deterioration in growth for the summer of 2025.

Before the Boeing IAM strike stifled production, FR, Boeing's most significant European customer, anticipated receiving 30 Boeing 737 jets between March and June 2025 to support its expansion objectives: a passenger increase from 200 million to 300 million by 2034.

Ryanair stated that Boeing's operational difficulties had already reduced the number of aircraft delivered to 25. FR also decreased its passenger traffic projections for 2025 from 215 million to 210 million in response to capacity constraints.

A Growing Chorus of Dissatisfaction

Other European airlines are also experiencing problems due to the aircraft shortage.

In a statement this week, Emirates (EK) President Sir Tim Clark said that his airline had “had to make significant and highly expensive amendments to our fleet programmes as a result of Boeing’s multiple contractual shortfalls.” 

He also stated that, given Boeing's current circumstances, he couldn't see how Boeing could "make any meaningful forecasts of delivery dates."

Cathay Pacific’s (CX) and Lufthansa’s (LH) CEOs have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the delays in the delivery of Boeing's long-haul 777X.

Travel correspondent of The Independent Simon Calder said, “Boeing is too American to fail, so the management are prepared to sustain a long strike. But it will directly impact millions of passengers in the UK and beyond, with fewer flights pushing up fares.”