Europe’s largest low-cost airline, Ryanair, has issued a warning regarding potential US customs tariffs that could lead to price increases on Boeing aircraft. The airline’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, stated that if import duties drive up aircraft costs, they may consider alternative suppliers, including the Chinese manufacturer COMAC.
O’Leary’s comments were included in an official letter sent to a senior US official on Thursday. The Ryanair CEO wrote, “If the US government implements a tariff scheme that increases the cost of exporting Boeing aircraft to Europe, we will reassess our existing orders and future delivery plans.”
Final Deliveries Approaching on Major 210-Aircraft Order
Under Ryanair’s current agreement with Boeing, the airline has placed an order for 210 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The final 29 aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of the 2026 financial year. Ryanair also has a separate agreement for 300 more aircraft—150 firm orders and 150 options—for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 model, with deliveries anticipated to begin in 2027.
“COMAC May Be Considered if 10–20% Cheaper Than Airbus”
Responding indirectly to US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi’s warning for Ryanair to avoid “Chinese-made aircraft,” O’Leary said they would be open to considering COMAC planes if they offered the right pricing. “We haven’t had any formal engagement with COMAC since 2011. However, if they were to offer aircraft at prices 10 to 20 per cent lower than Airbus, we would certainly take that into account,” he stated.
“We Won’t Seek Alternatives If Prices Remain Unaffected”
O’Leary stressed that his remarks should not be interpreted as a threat, adding that as long as customs tariffs do not impact the cost of Boeing orders, there would be no need to seek an alternative supplier.
