Boeing deliveries have ‘dramatically improved’: Ryanair to take more 737 MAX 8-200s earlier than expected
July 21, 2025
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, has noted a marked improvement in the quality and timeliness of Boeing deliveries.
Commending the leadership team, O’Leary noted that Ryanair expects to take the final tranche of Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 ‘gamechanger’ aircraft well ahead of Summer 2026. Indeed, he anticipates an extra five to be delivered in August.
He further noted that Boeing has confirmed ‘in writing’ the delivery of the yet to be certified 737 MAX 10 in time for the 2027 summer travel peak.
The comments were made during Ryanair’s Q1 2025 earnings call.
Ryanair to get more Boeing deliveries in August
Ryanair has agreed to take an extra five Boeing 737 MAX 8-200s next month, even though it doesn’t fit with its usual business plan.
“Boeing asked us to take them early,” says O’Leary. “It doesn’t suit us because we can’t deploy them, but we’re happy to take them early so we guarantee we don’t have any delivery delays running into summer of 2026.”
Ryanair has a strinct policy of not taking any new aircraft delvieries going into the low season, preferring instead to recieve them ahead of the summer peak when they can get maximum utilisation. However, it seems O’Leary is willing to make an exception this time.
Ryanair currently operates a fleet of 181 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft, including five delivered in the first quarter. The aircraft are densified to allow for more seats, with an extra emergency exit installed for compliance.
The airline ordered 210 of the type, but has been unhappy at the slow speed of delivery. Now, it expects to recieve all 29 of the reamining aircraft to arrive before summer 2026.
“The quality and the timeliness of Boeing deliveries has dramatically improved over the last twelve months,” O’Leary says. “I think that’s a testament to the a good job Kelly Ortenberg, Stephanie Pope, and her team are doing on the ground in Seattle.”
Ryanair has written confirmation on Boeing 737 MAX 10 deliveries
As well as waiting for more of its ‘gamechanger’ MAX 8-200s, Ryanair is eagerly looking ahead to receiving its first Boeing 737 MAX 10. This stretched variant has a capacity of up to 230 in an all-economy layout, giving low-cost carriers like Ryanair even better operating economics.
During the earnings call, O’Leary noted that Boeing had advised the airline that the MAX 10 certification was expected by late 2025, possibly slipping into early 2026. Either way, the approval of the new aircraft is anticipated to come in plenty of time for Ryanair’s first deliveries in 2027.
“I’m pleased to say that Boeing have now confirmed in writing, their confidence that they will deliver those first 15 MAX 10s to us in time for the summer 2027 peak,” O’Leary says. “These aircraft will transform Ryanair’s economics and further widen the operating and the cost gap between us and every other airline in Europe.”
