Ryanair, the Dublin-based low-cost airline, has announced a significant revision to its Summer 2024 flight schedule, attributing the change to delays in the delivery of Boeing 737-8-200 aircraft. Originally anticipating the addition of 57 new aircraft before June 2024, the airline has adjusted its expectations down to 40, necessitating a reduction in its planned flight operations during the peak travel months.
The airline’s initial schedule for the Summer 2024 season was predicated on the acquisition of at least fifty 737 aircraft. However, with the revised delivery forecast, Ryanair now finds itself compelled to cut around ten aircraft lines of flying for July, August, and September. This reduction will inevitably impact Ryanair’s capacity to meet the anticipated summer demand, affecting numerous routes and potentially hindering travel plans for countless passengers.
Ryanair is actively engaging with Boeing to expedite the delivery of the remaining ten 737-8-200s within the summer timeframe. Nevertheless, the uncertainty surrounding these deliveries has led Ryanair to exclude this additional capacity from its sales offerings. Historically, Ryanair has refrained from incorporating new aircraft into its fleet during the summer peak season to avoid operational disruptions during its busiest period.
This adjustment marks a further reduction from Ryanair Holdings CEO Michael O’Leary’s January 2024 statement, which optimistically forecasted the receipt of around fifty 737-8-200s by the summer peak. The delivery shortfall will predominantly impact Ryanair’s operations across several key European airports, including Dublin International, Milan Malpensa, Warsaw Modlin, Lisbon, Faro, Porto, and Funchal. The airline attributes these specific route adjustments to the disproportionately rapid inflation of costs at these locations.
Ryanair Holdings’ current fleet, as recorded by the ch-aviation fleets module, consists of 144 Boeing 737-8-200s, distributed among its Ryanair, Buzz (Poland), and Malta Air operations, with an additional 66 of the aircraft type on order. As one of the principal global operators of the 737-8-200, alongside India’s Akasa Air, Ryanair stands as the model’s largest customer. The airline has also placed orders for 150 737-10s and has expressed willingness to acquire any orders for this type that are cancelled by other airlines due to Boeing’s production issues.
The impact of the delivery delays extends beyond Ryanair’s operational planning, reflecting broader challenges in the aviation industry related to aircraft manufacturing and delivery timelines. As Ryanair works to mitigate these challenges, passengers and the airline industry alike await further updates on how these adjustments will influence travel and connectivity across Ryanair’s European network during the crucial summer travel season.
