Summary
- Ryanair is making cuts to its winter schedule because of delivery delays, with only 14 out of 27 expected aircraft set to be delivered in late 2023.
- These cuts may have significant knock-on effects on Ryanair’s 2023/24 winter schedule, leading to reduced capability at certain bases.
- Despite the delays, Ryanair doesn’t expect the situation to affect its full-year traffic results, however it may have to regulate its figures if the delays worsen.
Despite a powerful 12 months to this point because it bounces back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has been forced to make cuts to its winter schedule. The airline has cited delivery delays as the first reason for this, with greater than a dozen Boeing aircraft unable to hitch the carrier in time this 12 months.
13 missing aircraft
In keeping with an announcement published earlier today by Ryanair, the budget airline expected to take delivery of 27 aircraft between September and December this 12 months. Nonetheless, owing to production delays in Wichita and repair and delivery delays in Seattle, only just over half of those deliveries will occur, with a forecast of 14.
This leaves 13 aircraft unaccounted for, and stands to have significant knock-on effects when it comes to Ryanair’s 2023/24 winter schedule. Indeed, having planned for 27 deliveries within the last third of the 12 months and almost half of those no longer set to happen, the carrier has been forced to make cuts because of this lack of capability.
Photo: Ryanair
With no spare aircraft available because of planned winter maintenance, Ryanair will reduce its capability at certain bases. For instance, Brussels-Charleroi Airport (CRL) will lose three aircraft, and two might be faraway from the roster at Dublin Airport (DUB), despite the latter facility being Ryanair’s second-largest base.
The cancelations will begin next month
Other bases will see smaller cuts, with Bergamo, Cologne, East Midlands, Naples, Pisa, and Porto being amongst those affected. The cancelations that may arise because of the cuts are set to come back into effect in late October, with Ryanair preparing to tell affected passengers and offer them alternative flights or refunds in the approaching days. Michael O’Leary, who serves as Ryanair’s Group CEO, stated:
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Photo: Boeing
Despite the delays to Ryanair’s planned deliveries, the Irish low-cost carrier doesn’t expect the situation to affect its full-year traffic results at this stage. Nonetheless, should the problems proceed into next 12 months, things could change, as O’Leary notes:
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Ryanair’s largest base stands to enjoy a winter boost
Despite the awkward situation concerning its deliveries for the rest of the 12 months, it is not all doom and gloom when it comes to Ryanair’s winter schedule. Indeed, its largest base at London Stansted Airport (STN) is definitely set to see a capability boost towards the tip of 2023. As Easy Flying reported yesterday, the airline plans to base two more Boeing 737 MAX jets there, in addition to adding recent routes.
What do you make of Ryanair’s delay-induced winter schedule cuts? Are you planning to fly with the Irish low-cost carrier in late 2023? Tell us your thoughts within the comments!