In a letter to Democratic congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, CEO Michael O’Leary said Ryanair would “reassess” its Boeing order if U.S. tariffs increase the cost of the company’s planes. The airline currently has 330 planes on order with Boeing; the order is estimated to be worth about $30 billion.
The aviation sector is quickly becoming a key battleground in the trade war between the U.S. and its major trading partners. Boeing and Airbus, the current duopoly, are now grappling with how tariffs will affect their supply chains and international sales–with the disruption potentially opening the door to other suppliers, like COMAC.
Ryanair didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Boeing is increasingly finding itself in a tricky position amid trade tensions. The company is one of the U.S.’s top exporters, putting it in the crosshairs of governments upset with Trump’s new trade policies.
China was once one of Boeing’s most important non-U.S. markets, though safety concerns have dragged sales down in recent years.
Ryanair’s O’Leary is the latest aviation chief executive to consider COMAC as an alternative to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly.
No non-Chinese airline currently uses the C919. China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Air China currently use the jet–in tiny numbers.
But the COMAC still has a long hill to climb before its jets gain international acceptance. Major regulators still need to certify COMAC’s planes–which could take years, if it comes at all. COMAC’s planes are currently only certified to fly in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Florian Guillermet, the executive director of the regulator, said certification would not happen this year. COMAC began working with EASA about four years ago.
