- By Katy Austin
- Traffic correspondent
2 hours ago
Image source: Getty Images
Ryanair's boss said holidaymakers could face higher fares this summer due to the delayed arrival of new Boeing planes.
Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said the delayed delivery of the planes would limit capacity for passengers.
He said this could make Ryanair ticket prices up to 10% more expensive this summer.
Ryanair hopes to receive some compensation but is focused on delivering the aircraft, he added.
Mr O'Leary said a delivery of 57 Boeing 737 Max 8200s is due by March, but the company expects only 40-45 to arrive in time for the summer season.
Boeing has been under scrutiny since an incident in January in which part of one of its jets exploded during a passenger flight. The Alaska Airlines passenger flight caused no serious injuries but forced an emergency landing.
As a result, O'Leary said, the US manufacturer was “overwhelmed” by US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration.
Major concerns have been raised about the quality control of new Boeing aircraft, resulting in a slowdown in production speed.
Mr O'Leary said cost savings from fuel hedging would mean Ryanair's fare increase would not be as steep as the 17% increase in 2023.
Some other airlines are also experiencing capacity bottlenecks because aircraft are not available, he added.
For example, a problem with Pratt & Whitney's engines has caused several Airbus aircraft from airlines such as Wizz Air to be grounded.
He told reporters that there would be “higher fares across Europe” this summer.
Ryanair's original forecast for the year to the end of March 2025 was that it would carry 205 million passengers, up from 183.5 million in the previous 12 months.
Speaking at the company's headquarters in Dublin, Mr O'Leary said: “With fewer aircraft we may have to reduce the 205 million to 200 million passengers.”
“If capacity were to grow, I think prices would go down,” he added.
Speaking about US plane maker Boeing's problems, Mr O'Leary described the message he was currently receiving from the company as “confusion”.
The budget airline's boss has repeatedly supported Boeing's top management but criticized the plane maker's quality control standards.
He doesn't believe ousting 737 Max program chief Ed Clark was the right move, arguing that it makes no sense to have both a replacement for Mr. Clark and a new president of quality.
Ryanair, he said, wanted a responsible person to monitor the situation on a daily basis, having previously said their products were “great aircraft, they just don't make them on time or deliver them on time”.
A Boeing spokesman said: “We communicate with customers that some delivery schedules may change as we take the time necessary to ensure that every aircraft we deliver is of high quality and meets all customer and regulatory requirements.”
They added that they “deeply regret the impact this is having on our valued customer Ryanair.”
“We are working to address their concerns and are taking action on a comprehensive plan to improve the quality and delivery performance of the 737.”