Ryanair May Cancel Boeing 737 MAX Order Over US Tariffs

Ryanair has threatened to cancel its major Boeing 737 MAX order if proposed US tariffs increase aircraft costs. CEO Michael O’Leary issued the warning in a letter to U.S. lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi, saying the airline may reconsider its existing Boeing orders and explore other manufacturers, including China’s COMAC, if pricing becomes uncompetitive.

This response came after Krishnamoorthi advised against Ryanair purchasing from COMAC, citing the Chinese company’s alleged ties to the military and potential misuse of foreign intellectual property. O’Leary clarified that Ryanair hasn’t held discussions with COMAC since 2011, when they signed a cooperation agreement to support the design of a new narrowbody aircraft. However, he added that the airline would consider future COMAC orders if they were 10-20% cheaper than Airbus alternatives.

COMAC’s C919, a direct competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, has yet to secure orders outside of China. While the company has stated that EASA certification is expected by 2025, the agency estimates approval could take three to six more years.

Ryanair currently has 29 Boeing 737-8-200s in service and 150 Boeing 737-10s on order. O’Leary previously indicated that tariffs could delay delivery of the MAX 10, which is slated to begin arriving in 2027. The airline also arranged for additional 737-8-200s if the MAX 10 fails to gain certification by the end of 2025.

The situation adds further uncertainty to Boeing’s timeline and Ryanair’s fleet expansion strategy amid rising trade tensions.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com