Ryanair flights: CEO of budget airline, Michael O'Leary, warns flights could be axed next summer due to Boeing delays

On Wednesday (16 October), Michael O’Leary, CEO of the Irish airline, expressed “short-term” frustration that “we won’t get all 30 aircraft”. He warned that this would result in “slowing down growth for summer 2025,” at an industry conference in Brussels.

Ryanair is Boeing’s largest customer in Europe and expects to receive 30 Boeing 737 aircraft between March and June 2025 to fulfil its growth plans. The budget carrier relies on Boeing 737 deliveries to meet targets.

However, Boeing has been hit with a strike by its largest union which has been ongoing since 14 September, halting the manufacturer’s supply chain. Ryanair said that Boeing’s operational issues had already brought the number of aircraft delivered down to 25.

Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, 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.”

Mr O’Leary also added that flights may be axed if chancellor Rachel Reeves raises aviation taxes in the Budget. According to Ryanair, an increase in air passenger duty (APD), currently £7 for internal flights, would mean a decrease in customer demand and a “cut in capacity”.

The airline has already cut 12 per cent off its capacity to protest high taxes in Germany. At the Brussels meeting Mr O’Leary called APD a “penal tax on the poor”, reported the Telegraph.