Ryanair Blames Boeing Delays For Winter Schedule Cuts

Despite a strong year to date as it bounces back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has been forced to make cuts to its winter schedule. The airline has cited delivery delays as the primary cause of this, with more than a dozen Boeing aircraft unable to join the carrier in time this year.

13 missing aircraft

According to a statement published earlier today by Ryanair, the budget airline expected to take delivery of 27 aircraft between September and December this year. However, owing to production delays in Wichita and repair and delivery delays in Seattle, only just over half of these deliveries will occur, with a forecast of 14.

This leaves 13 aircraft unaccounted for, and stands to have significant knock-on effects in terms of Ryanair’s 2023/24 winter schedule. Indeed, having planned for 27 deliveries in the last third of the year and almost half of these now not set to take place, the carrier has been forced to make cuts due to this lack of capacity.

Photo: Ryanair

With no spare aircraft available due to planned winter maintenance, Ryanair will reduce its capacity at certain bases. For example, Brussels-Charleroi Airport (CRL) will lose three aircraft, and two will be removed from the roster at Dublin Airport (DUB), despite the latter facility being Ryanair’s second-largest base.

The cancelations will begin next month

Other bases will see smaller cuts, with Bergamo, Cologne, East Midlands, Naples, Pisa, and Porto being among those affected. The cancelations that will arise due to the cuts are set to come into effect in late October, with Ryanair preparing to inform affected passengers and offer them alternative flights or refunds in the coming days. Michael O’Leary, who serves as Ryanair’s Group CEO, stated:

“It is deeply regrettable that production problems in Wichita and Seattle have yet again delayed Boeing’s contracted deliveries to Ryanair this winter. We are in regular dialogue with Boeing, and our primary objective is to ensure we get delivery of all 57 contracted 737 aircraft before the end of May 2024, so that Ryanair’s fleet can grow to over 600 aircraft for what will be our largest-ever summer flight program.”

Photo: Boeing

Despite the delays to Ryanair’s planned deliveries, the Irish low-cost carrier doesn’t expect the situation to impact its full-year traffic results at this stage. However, should the issues continue into next year, things could change, as O’Leary notes:

“At this early date, we do not expect these delivery delays will materially affect our full-year traffic target of 183.5 million [passengers]. If the delays worsen or extend further into the Jan to Mar 2024 period, we may have to revisit this figure and possibly adjust it slightly downward.”

Ryanair’s largest base stands to enjoy a winter boost

Despite the awkward situation concerning its deliveries for the remainder of the year, it isn’t all doom and gloom in terms of Ryanair’s winter schedule. Indeed, its largest base at London Stansted Airport (STN) is actually set to see a capacity boost towards the end of 2023. As Simple Flying reported yesterday, the airline plans to base two more Boeing 737 MAX jets there, as well as adding new routes.

What do you make of Ryanair’s delay-induced winter schedule cuts? Are you planning to fly with the Irish low-cost carrier in late 2023? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!