Ryanair cuts passenger forecasts amid delays in receiving Boeing planes
Ryanair cuts passenger forecasts amid delays in receiving Boeing planes
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Irish air carrier Ryanair has reduced its passenger forecast due to delays in Boeing delivering new aircraft. Europe's largest low-cost airline anticipates attracting 206million customers in the 2026 financial year, equivalent to 3 per cent annual growth.
It warned it no longer believes Boeing will provide 'sufficient aircraft' ahead of the coming summer season to help boost passenger volumes to its previous target of 210million. Boeing, whose biggest European customer is Ryanair, suffered a major production slowdown last year following a seven-week strike by machinists in Washington State over pay and retirement plans.
The industrial action compounded problems for an airplane manufacturer already facing huge controversy over its safety record. All its 737 Max 9 aircraft were grounded for about three weeks early last year after an Alaska Airlines flight in January was forced to make an emergency landing due to a doorplug blowout.
Outlook: Irish air carrier Ryanair has reduced its passenger forecast again due to delays in Boeing delivering new aircraft. Ryanair said it was 'hopeful' of receiving the remaining 29 aircraft of its 210 MAX order before March 2026, and the MAX-10 to be certified later this year in time for the first 15 MAX-10 deliveries in Spring 2027.
As a result, the Dublin-based company plans to allocate 'scarce capacity growth' to airports and countries reducing or abolishing their aviation taxes to incentivise traffic expansion, such as Poland, Sweden and Italy. This will not include the UK, where Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced hikes to air passenger duty in last October's Budget.
