Boeing to deliver 25 new aircraft to Ryanair in October

Airline has already sold 70% of September seats, CEO Michael O'Leary said

Ryanair says it expects delivery of 25 new Boeing aircraft by October instead of the spring of next year, the airline's CEO Michael O'Leary said on Wednesday. Picture: Brian Lawless

Ryanair says it expects delivery of 25 new Boeing aircraft by October instead of the spring of next year, the airline's CEO Michael O'Leary said on Wednesday.

The US planemaker is working to stabilise production after a mid-air panel blowout on a new 737 MAX in January 2024 exposed widespread production quality and safety problems. "The quality of what they're delivering is excellent so we're really impressed," Mr O'Leary said in Brussels.

Mr O'Leary added that he expects Boeing's newer 737 MAX jets to be certified soon by the US Federal Aviation Administration. He said Boeing had indicated that the MAX 7 should be certified by the end of 2025, while the MAX 10 could receive certification by early next year.

The Irish carrier had a 7% dip in sales last summer but expects to recover most of this. Ryanair has already filled 70% of its September seats, Mr O'Leary said.  

Ryanair has struggled with air traffic control strikes this summer, but he said bookings remain strong and confirmed no change to the airline's guidance.

The budget carrier had to cancel around 700 flights in July due to strikes, mainly in France. While air traffic control strikes dropped in August, the European Union still needs to do more to allow planes to fly over given countries during strikes and guarantee staffing, he told Reuters. 

"You can't allow the French to close the skies over Europe just because they want to go on strike," he said.

Reuters