LONDON -- Ryanair may be forced to cut flights and raise fares in the peak summer season this year because crisis-hit Boeing can鈥檛 deliver the planes it promised.
Michael O鈥橪eary, the CEO of Europe鈥檚 biggest airline by passenger numbers, said during a widely-reported press briefing Friday that air fares could rise as much as 10 per cent partly because of delays to aircraft deliveries.
Boeing has been hit by new safety and quality concerns since early January, when a piece of fuselage on a 737 Max 9, operated by Alaska Airlines, blew out mid-flight. Further problems have come to light with some 737s since, disrupting Boeing鈥檚 production schedule. It has also postponed certification of two new versions of the jet.
Until recently, Ryanair was expecting Boeing to deliver 57 Max 8-200 planes by the end of April, Reuters O鈥橪eary as saying. On Friday, the CEO said he was 鈥減retty sure鈥� the airline would receive between 30 and 40 aircraft, but 鈥渇ar less confident鈥� of getting between 45 and 50.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 really know how many aircraft we鈥檙e going to get from Boeing,鈥� he said, according to Reuters.
A Ryanair spokesperson told CNN that the reports of O鈥橪eary鈥檚 media briefing were accurate and that the company had nothing further to add at this time.
If only 40 aircraft are delivered, Ryanair may have to 鈥渁nnounce some minor schedule cuts鈥� by the end of March, O鈥橪eary was reported as saying. That could bump up air fares by between 5 per cent and 10 per cent this summer.
Demand for international travel rebounded strongly last year, causing airfares to soar around the world. Ryanair鈥檚 Ireland-listed stock has risen 69% since the start of 2023.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inexcusable. Boeing will try to claim that it鈥檚 excusable. I think we (will) get some modest compensation out of Boeing,鈥� O鈥橪eary said. 鈥淎t the point our focus is getting the bloody airplanes.鈥�
A spokesperson for Boeing (BA) said the company was communicating with customers over changes to its delivery schedule. 鈥淲e (are taking) the necessary time to make sure that every airplane we deliver is high quality and meets all customer and regulatory requirements.鈥�
鈥淲e deeply regret the impact this is having on our valued customer Ryanair. We鈥檙e working to address their concerns and taking action on a comprehensive plan to strengthen 737 quality and delivery performance.鈥�
O鈥橪eary鈥檚 comments come nearly a month after he expressed 鈥渁 lot of confidence鈥� in Boeing鈥檚 leadership. He praised efforts by David Calhoun and Brian West, Boeing鈥檚 CEO and chief financial officer respectively, to turn the company around. 鈥淚 think safety is their number one byword,鈥� he said in a posted on Ryanair鈥檚 website.
