Key Points:

  • Ryanair experiences a reduced number of Boeing aircraft deliveries, leading to several flight cancellations this winter.

  • Production delays in Wichita and Seattle are identified as primary reasons for the setback.

  • Affected passengers will be notified, offered alternative flights or full refunds, as Ryanair works on the solution.

Ryanair Announces Winter Flight Cancellations Due to Boeing Delivery Delays


DUBLIN — Amid unexpected delivery delays from Boeing, Ryanair finds itself in a position to cancel numerous winter flights, TW reports. On September 28, the airline revealed it would be making multiple winter 2023 schedule reductions due to these delays from Boeing during September to December.

While the original plan was to welcome 27 aircraft from Boeing between September to December, the revised expectations are only 14 between October and December. The holdup primarily arises from production hiccups at the Spirit Fuselage facility in Wichita, further compounded by Boeing's delivery and repair delays in Seattle.

Ryanair is actively collaborating with Boeing in hopes to expedite deliveries between January and May 2024. The airline aims to kick off the summer 2024 travel peak with the promised 57 new Boeing aircraft.

Resulting from these disruptions, Ryanair will scale down the number of aircraft at multiple locations. Charleroi will see a reduction of three aircraft, Dublin by two, while five aircraft will be reduced across four Italian bases, including Bergamo, Naples, and Pisa. Further cuts are expected in East Midlands, Porto, and Cologne airports.

The airline expressed its regret over these necessary reductions, noting that their winter schedule does not accommodate spare aircraft. The entire fleet, which consists of over 550 aircraft, requires scheduled maintenance to ensure their readiness for the grand summer 2024 schedule.

Group Chief Executive of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, conveyed his concerns, stating, "The production issues in Wichita and Seattle have unfortunately resulted in Boeing falling behind on its winter deliveries to Ryanair. Our ongoing communication with Boeing aims to receive all 57 B737 aircraft by the end of May 2024." O’Leary highlighted that their fleet's growth is crucial to support their extensive summer flight program.

From the end of October, the flight cancellations will commence. Affected passengers will be informed through emails and offered alternatives or complete refunds. O’Leary added, "Our current forecasts don't see these delays affecting our annual traffic target of 183.5 million. However, if delays continue into early 2024, we might need to reconsider."