Boeing delivery delays cost Ryanair millions of passengers

Boeing jet delivery delays are causing Ryanair to lose millions of passengers, the Irish airline’s executive chairman has said.

“Delays in deliveries [de aviões] “Boeing is putting Ryanair’s growth at risk,” Michael O’Leary said at a news conference on Tuesday, reported by AFP.

The budget airline expects to carry five million fewer passengers this financial year than its original target of 205 million, its chief executive said.

Ryanair has an order for 350 Boeing planes, but the North American manufacturer has experienced some setbacks and delays in deliveries.

“We were supposed to get seven in July. We got five. We were supposed to get ten in August. We’ll be lucky if we get five,” Michael O’Leary explained.

The person in charge estimates that the loss of five million passengers this summer could lead to a reduction in the company’s turnover of around 500 million euros.

“Boeing, of course, pays us modest compensation, but would prefer to receive the planes,” he noted.

In the first financial quarter (April-June), Ryanair’s profit fell by 45% compared to the same period last year to 360 million euros.

The Dublin-based airline blamed the profit drop on “lower than expected airfares”. It was also penalised by a fall in average ticket prices. However, Michael O’Leary said on Tuesday that the fall in prices appeared to be slowing.