US Congressman Urges Ryanair to Shun COMAC Jets
US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has written to Ryanair’s Chief Executive Michael O’Leary, warning against any future purchase of Chinese-made COMAC aircraft over national security concerns. In the letter, dated April 2025 and obtained by Reuters, Krishnamoorthi—who serves as the Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party—cautions that European and American carriers should avoid aircraft linked to Chinese military entities. His intervention follows O’Leary’s March comments suggesting Ryanair might order the COMAC C919 if it undercuts Airbus on price.
The C919, China’s homegrown competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, has gained traction among Chinese airlines since its certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. European regulators at EASA have yet to certify the type, estimating a three- to six-year timeline before flights could begin under EU rules. Despite that, O’Leary told Skift in March that Ryanair would welcome the C919 “if it was 10 or 20 percent cheaper than an Airbus aircraft,” underlining the carrier’s relentless cost focus.
Krishnamoorthi’s letter underscores worries about COMAC’s close ties with the Chinese military-industrial complex. “Respectfully, US and European airlines should not be even contemplating the future purchase of airplanes from Chinese military companies,” he wrote. The congressman argues that allowing Chinese-built airliners into Western fleets risks exposing critical aviation infrastructure and supply chains to state influence, potentially compromising cybersecurity and defense considerations.
Reacting to the warning, O’Leary replied on May 1, 2025, that Ryanair would reconsider its Boeing orders if US government tariffs drove up the cost of 737 deliveries. “If the US government proceeds with its ill-judged plan to impose tariffs, and if these tariffs materially affect the price of Boeing aircraft exports to Europe, then we would certainly reassess both our current Boeing orders,” the Ryanair CEO told Krishnamoorthi, according to a Reuters report. The carrier has 29 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200s and 150 MAX 10s on order, according to ch-aviation data.
Industry analysts note that Ryanair’s willingness to explore alternative narrowbody suppliers reflects growing trade tensions between the US and China and mounting pressure on airlines to diversify their fleets. While Boeing and Airbus dominate the global narrowbody market, COMAC’s emergence could offer lower sticker prices. Yet the aircraft’s long-term reliability, parts availability and certification status remain unproven outside China, factors that have historically shaped aircraft procurement decisions.
European legislators and safety regulators have historically insisted on rigorous evaluation before approving new airframes. EASA’s multi-year certification process for the C919 will examine performance, maintenance protocols and pilot training requirements to ensure compliance with EU safety standards. Until that process concludes, no Chinese-built jets can legally enter service in Europe, limiting Ryanair’s ability to test or deploy the C919 even if it placed an order.
Ryanair’s pipeline of Boeing MAX jets will continue to drive its expansion across Europe. The airline has committed to replacing older 737-800s with the new MAX variants to boost efficiency, reduce fuel burn and expand low-cost connectivity. O’Leary’s measured response to Krishnamoorthi suggests Ryanair will remain flexible on future narrowbody sourcing, balancing cost pressures, geopolitical considerations and regulatory hurdles as it plans for the next decade of growth.
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