Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) could delay the deliveries of new Boeing aircraft if the aircraft become pricier due to new United States tariffs, the chief executive of Ryanair Holdings, Michael O'Leary, told the Financial Times.
“If tariffs are imposed on those aircraft, there’s every likelihood we may delay the delivery,” he said.
Ryanair is set to receive 25 new aircraft between August and October 2025, but the company is willing to postpone their arrival if the cost of importing them increases. O'Leary noted that these aircraft will not be needed until March or April, in time for the 2026 summer season.
“We might delay them and hope that common sense will prevail,” he added.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Ryanair has unfulfilled orders for thirty-one B737-8-200s and 150 B737-10s. Although the low-cost carrier recently agreed on a delivery timeline for the Boeing aircraft, it is still facing significant delays. O'Leary has complained that Ryanair will be short of 30 aircraft this summer season.
Headwinds amid US tariffs
The airline industry faces uncertainties due to the tariffs imposed by the new US administration.
Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has already announced that it will not bear the additional costs of new aircraft. CEO Ed Bastian said that the airline will defer "any deliveries that have a tariff on them", adding that it is very difficult to "make that math work" if a 20% incremental cost is added.
Meanwhile, Juneyao Air (HO, Shanghai Hongqiao) has already postponed delivery of a B787-9 because of increased tariffs newly imposed on US imports. The airline had been expected to take delivery of the aircraft within the next few weeks.
