DUBLIN — Ryanair has signaled it may postpone the delivery of 25 Boeing aircraft scheduled to begin arriving in August, as concerns mount over the financial impact of sweeping global tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month.
Speaking to The Financial Times, Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said the Irish budget airline may hold off accepting the aircraft if the new tariffs significantly inflate the cost. “If tariffs are imposed on those aircraft, there’s every likelihood we may delay the delivery,” O’Leary said, adding that the planes are not urgently needed until March or April of 2026.
The warning comes after the White House announced a series of global tariffs on April 1, including a 20% levy on imports from the European Union. The measures target crucial manufacturing materials such as steel and aluminium, potentially disrupting supply chains across multiple industries—aviation included.
Although some tariffs have been temporarily suspended for 90 days amid ongoing trade negotiations, a 10% global minimum tariff remains in place. Additionally, a punitive 145% tariff has been applied to most Chinese exports to the U.S., prompting Beijing to respond with a 125% counter-tariff on American goods.
O’Leary’s comments underscore the broader anxiety in the airline industry, where the financial margins for new aircraft purchases are tightly calculated. The added costs associated with trade restrictions could strain those equations, forcing carriers to reassess fleet expansion plans.
In the U.S., Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian also addressed tariff concerns during a recent analyst call, saying the airline would not bear any added costs related to its incoming Airbus orders. “If you start to put a 20% incremental cost on top of an aircraft, it gets very difficult to make the math work,” Bastian remarked. “We will not be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries we take.”
The evolving tariff landscape poses fresh challenges for global aviation, just as airlines are ramping up capacity in anticipation of a busy travel season. For Ryanair, the outcome of trade talks and tariff rulings could determine whether its 2025 expansion plan takes off—or stays grounded.
