Ryanair expects Boeing to produce 38 of its 737 MAX planes per month by the end of the summer and possibly up to 42 by October, subject to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approval, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said on Monday.

The budget airline expects to fly fewer passengers than hoped in fiscal 2026, cutting its passenger growth target yet again, due to Boeing plane delivery delays.

For the entirety of its fiscal 2025, which ends March 31, the airline now expects “almost 200 million passengers,” as long as there is no further bad news on delivery delays from Boeing. At its fiscal half-year results presentation Nov. 4, 2024, Ryanair said it was targeting between 198 million and 200 million.

Ryanair expects to receive 38 Boeing 737 planes by the end of the summer and possibly up to 42 by October if the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approves deliveries of the additional jets, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said on Monday.

Delays in Boeing 737 Max delivery impacted Ryanair ( NASDAQ:RYAAY) negatively, forcing Ryanair to revise its passenger forecast down to 206 million passengers only for the fiscal year 2026 from the initially anticipated 210 million passengers.

The budget airline reported an increase in earnings after passenger numbers and average fares rose in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, but Boeing delivery delays are expected to weigh on the company next year.

Ryanair said it expects to take delivery of nine Boeing 737 MAX aircraft ahead of its peak summer season, fewer than expected, and as a result will cut its forecast for passenger numbers in the 12 months to March 31, 2026, to 206 million from 210 million.

Irish carrier now expects to carry 206 million passengers in 2025-26 financial year, down from 210m previously forecast