Ryanair has warned it may cancel its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft order if proposed tariffs from the United States make the jets more expensive. The airline also said it could explore aircraft deals with other manufacturers if costs rise, including a potential return to discussions with China’s COMAC.
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary expressed his concerns in a letter to U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat representing Illinois. O’Leary wrote that Ryanair would “reassess both our current Boeing orders and the possibility of placing those orders elsewhere,” including with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC.
Krishnamoorthi had earlier warned Ryanair about working with the Chinese manufacturer. In a letter dated April 29, he urged the airline not to consider COMAC aircraft, citing concerns that the company has close ties to China’s military and may have “illegally acquired” foreign intellectual property.
O’Leary replied that Ryanair had not engaged in aircraft purchase talks with COMAC since 2011. That year, Ryanair signed a cooperation agreement to help COMAC with narrowbody aircraft development. However, he noted that Ryanair would consider future purchases if COMAC could offer aircraft at a price 10 to 20 percent lower than that of Airbus.
Ryanair has a large order book with Boeing, including 29 B737-8-200s and 150 B737-10s. The airline expects to receive 15 of the 737 MAX 10 jets in 2027. However, O’Leary previously said Ryanair might delay those deliveries if tariffs from the U.S. government increase the aircraft’s cost.
In anticipation of possible delays in certification for the MAX 10, Ryanair also arranged for Boeing to supply more 737-8-200s if the larger variant does not get approval by the end of 2025. The deal ensures the airline has backup plans if there are certification issues.
COMAC’s aircraft faces global certification delays
The Chinese-built COMAC C919, which is similar in size to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, has not yet received orders from airlines outside China. Although COMAC claims it expects the aircraft to be certified in Europe by 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has said the process may actually take between three to six years. That delay could affect any potential deals between Ryanair and the Chinese company.
Ryanair has not confirmed any formal plans to change manufacturers, but the possibility remains open. The current discussion reflects how political decisions, such as tariffs, can affect airline fleet strategies. Airlines may explore new suppliers to manage long-term costs, especially as deliveries of new aircraft stretch across several years.
Ryanair’s next moves will depend on how tariff decisions and aircraft certification timelines evolve. For now, the airline continues to work with Boeing but has made it clear that it will protect its financial interests if price changes impact its future fleet planning.
