Ryanair has warned it may cancel its multibillion-dollar aircraft orders with Boeing if the United States proceeds with a proposed tariff plan that raises the cost of U.S. exports to Europe, including commercial jets. The airline also signaled it could consider switching to alternative suppliers, including China’s COMAC.
The warning from Europe’s largest budget airline comes amid rising global trade tensions, particularly over tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a letter addressed to U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said that tariffs could threaten the company’s order of 330 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which have a combined list price exceeding $30 billion.
“If the U.S. government proceeds with its ill-judged plan to impose tariffs… we would certainly reassess both our current Boeing orders and the possibility of placing those orders elsewhere,” O’Leary wrote in the letter, which was reviewed by Reuters.
O’Leary’s remarks mark an escalation from previous warnings issued earlier this year. In April, he suggested Ryanair might delay deliveries, but this latest statement suggests the airline is willing to take more drastic steps if costs rise due to trade policy.
While Ryanair mentioned COMAC—the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China—as a potential alternative, analysts note that the Chinese firm’s C919 jet is not yet certified for use in Europe and remains untested by Western airlines. Moreover, Airbus, Boeing’s only other major competitor in the large single-aisle market, has indicated that it is fully booked through the end of the decade.
Despite this, O’Leary said Ryanair would “of course” consider COMAC aircraft if they were 10%–20% cheaper than Airbus planes. He also noted that the Irish airline has not had any discussions with COMAC since 2011.
Boeing has not commented publicly on Ryanair’s threat. However, industry experts suggest O’Leary’s remarks may be part of a broader negotiating strategy, especially as Boeing faces its own challenges with production delays and strained delivery schedules.
Aircraft contracts typically do not account for tariffs, as the industry has operated in a tariff-free environment for decades. Any such charges would be levied only after delivery, once the purchasing airline takes ownership. With rising trade uncertainty, industry sources say manufacturers are now reconsidering how future contracts are written.
Ryanair’s move highlights growing volatility in the aerospace market and the potential reshaping of global aircraft supply chains if trade disputes continue to escalate.
