Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger traffic, operates an exclusive fleet of more than 575 Boeing 737 aircraft. The Dublin-based budget carrier has adopted a single-aircraft model strategy to streamline operations and cut costs, avoiding the complexity and expenses associated with maintaining a mixed fleet.
The airline typically secures bulk deals on new Boeing 737 models at significant discounts. Its latest agreement includes a potential purchase of up to 300 of the upcoming MAX 10 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027. However, half of the order remains optional, allowing Ryanair to scale back or cancel depending on market developments.
Boeing is currently facing mounting challenges in China due to U.S.-imposed tariffs, which are squeezing the American aircraft maker’s business in the region. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has previously indicated that rising prices caused by trade tensions or retaliatory EU measures could prompt the airline to abandon its exclusive relationship with Boeing.
O’Leary has expressed openness to sourcing aircraft from Boeing rivals, including Airbus and China’s state-owned aerospace manufacturer Comac — provided the price is right. Although Ryanair signed a partnership agreement in 2011 to advise Comac, it has yet to purchase any of the Chinese firm’s planes.
This week, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, the senior Democrat on the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, urged O’Leary in a letter to fully rule out buying from Comac, citing security and political concerns.













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