LONDON (FFN) – Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has announced that it will be forced to sell fewer tickets this year due to delayed aircraft deliveries from Boeing. According to Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, these delays are challenging the company’s growth plans for 2024.
Initially, Ryanair expected to carry around 210 million passengers this year. However, due to the delivery issues, the airline now anticipates transporting approximately 205 million passengers, five million fewer than originally planned. Ryanair has ordered 350 Boeing 737 aircraft, but the American manufacturer has been postponing deliveries due to a series of technical problems. “We were supposed to receive seven aircraft in July. We got five. In August, we were expecting ten, and we’ll be lucky if we get five,” O’Leary explained.
| Month | Expected Aircraft Deliveries | Actual Aircraft Delivered |
|---|---|---|
| July | 7 | 5 |
| August | 10 | 5 (expected) |
The reduction of five million passengers could decrease the company’s revenue by approximately €500 million this year, according to O’Leary. While Boeing is likely to offer some modest compensation, O’Leary emphasized that he would much prefer to receive the aircraft on time to support Ryanair’s continued growth.
This situation presents a significant challenge for Ryanair’s growth plans, as the airline must now adjust its business strategies to accommodate these unforeseen circumstances.
Keywords: Ryanair, Boeing, Michael O’Leary, delayed deliveries, 737 aircraft, revenue reduction, ticket sales, low-cost carrier, growth plan, compensation.
