Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has quipped that the airline should represent Ireland in trade discussions with the Trump administration due to its aircraft orders worth $35bn from Boeing.
The new Irish government, led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, is preparing a trade consultative forum in response to expected tariffs on imports during Trump’s second term, with a focus on promoting Irish trade in the US.
Ryanair is currently facing delivery delays from Boeing, which may hinder its plans to carry 210m passengers by March 2026, with revised expectations set at 206m instead.
O’Leary expressed concerns over high airport taxes in the UK and affirmed the airline’s importance to European integration, stating that Ryanair has historically been a key player in the airline industry and the broader economy.
Neil Sorohan shared “Ryanair would need nine more aircraft before the busy summer to hit its original target and that will ntt now happen, but insisted he has a “high level of confidence” the aircraft maker is starting to catch up.
“Michael and I have been in Seattle three times in the last 12 months and and have seen a notable improvements. I expect Ryanair to have all of the outstanding 29 aircraft in the order by the summer of next year and to then be in a position to hit its 215m passenger target, albeit a year later than planned.”
