According to a report by Aviation Week, Ryanair, Boeing’s largest customer in Europe, has warned that U.S. tariffs could prompt the airline to reconsider its orders with the American aircraft manufacturer, especially if China’s Comac offers competitive pricing.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary responded in a letter, reported by Reuters, to U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), who urged the low-cost carrier to exclude Comac from its plans. Krishnamoorthi stated that “U.S. and European airlines should not even consider purchasing aircraft from Chinese military companies.”
O’Leary replied that Ryanair would “reassess its current Boeing orders and the possibility of sourcing aircraft elsewhere” if U.S. tariffs significantly increase Boeing’s prices.
In early 2025, the U.S. designated Comac, manufacturer of the ARJ21 and C919, as a “Chinese military contractor.” Krishnamoorthi expressed particular concern over O’Leary’s remarks suggesting Comac could be an option for Ryanair if prices are low enough. In his letter, he asked, “Has Ryanair held any discussions with Comac regarding potential purchases or leases?” and called on O’Leary to “retract his statements and commit to not purchasing Comac aircraft.”
Comac applied for European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification of its C919 before 2020, hoping for approval by late 2025. However, EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet told L’Usine Nouvelle that certification would not occur this year but should be completed within 3-6 years. His predecessor, Patrick Ky, was more optimistic, telling Les Echos that—barring “major unforeseen issues”—certification could be finalized by 2028-2029, Aviation Week reports.
If Comac ramps up production without filling all domestic orders, European airlines might receive C919 deliveries faster than comparable Western narrow-body jets.
Although O’Leary noted that Ryanair has not held serious talks with Comac in over a decade, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2011 to explore developing a 200-seat C919 variant. At the time, O’Leary said, “We’re pleased there’s a real alternative to Boeing and Airbus.” Ryanair later shifted focus to the Boeing MAX but left the door open for future Comac collaboration.
According to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database, Ryanair currently has 179 Boeing aircraft on order: 150 uncertified 737-10s and 29 737-8-200s (a high-density MAX 8 variant), plus options for 150 more 737-10s and 25 737-8-200s. O’Leary told Aviation Week in February that delivery delays would slow the airline’s growth by a year.
If U.S. tariffs become a major obstacle, Ryanair could seriously consider Comac as an alternative, further weakening Boeing’s position in the European market.
