Ryanair Adjusts Winter Schedule Amid Boeing Delivery Delays

Ryanair Holdings, a major player in the low-cost airline sector, has announced significant adjustments to its Winter 2023/24 season schedule due to delays in the delivery of its new B737-8-200 aircraft. The airline now anticipates receiving only 14 aircraft by the end of the year, half of its initial plan, impacting its winter operations.

Group CEO Michael O’Leary expressed regret over the production issues affecting Boeing’s deliveries to Ryanair, citing problems in Wichita and Seattle. O’Leary stated, “We are in regular dialogue with Boeing, and our primary objective is to ensure we get delivery of all 57 contracted B737 aircraft before the end of May 2024.”

Originally expecting 27 new aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2023 and an additional 30 by May 2024, Ryanair is actively collaborating with Boeing to ensure the fleet reaches its projected size by the peak of the Summer 2024 season.

To manage the situation, the carrier will reduce the number of aircraft based at various locations, including Brussels Charleroi, Dublin International, Naples Capodichino, Pisa, Milan Bergamo, Cologne/Bonn, Porto, and Nottingham East Midlands. Ryanair emphasizes that necessary maintenance ahead of the busier summer season has left no spare aircraft this winter.

The airline group has already incorporated 124 B737-8-200s into its fleet, distributed among Ryanair, Buzz (Poland), and Malta Air AOCs. With an additional 86 units on order from Boeing, the B737-8-200 complements the existing fleet of 392 B737-800s and twenty-eight A320-200s operated by Lauda Europe. Ryanair also operates a single B737-700 on the Polish AOC for training, corporate, and backup purposes.

As the airline navigates the challenges posed by the Boeing delivery delays, passengers and stakeholders can expect updates on Ryanair’s winter schedule adjustments and ongoing efforts to secure timely aircraft deliveries. Stay tuned for further developments in this dynamic situation.