Ryanair to cut flights as aircraft shortage looms, prices set to rise
Ryanair (Getty Images)
One of Europe's largest low-cost airlines, Ryanair, will reduce flight frequency as the carrier will face a shortage of aircraft. Ticket prices may increase in the summer because of reduced cargo capacities in Europe, reports avianews.com.
Ryanair expected to receive 57 Boeing 737-8200 MAX aircraft from the American manufacturer, but the new schedule anticipates delivery of only 40 aircraft.
The shortage of aircraft forces the airline to reduce flight frequency, but it has been decided not to close routes. Passenger traffic is expected to decrease to 198-200 million passengers out of the planned 205 million passengers per year.
Flights will be reduced from airports whose fees are not acceptable to Ryanair, including Warsaw-Modlin, Dublin, Milan-Malpensa, and four airports in Portugal.
Another European low-cost carrier, Wizz Air, also faces an aircraft shortage. By the end of March 2024, the airline plans to ground 40 of its aircraft for inspections, which is a fifth of its entire fleet.
Problems with engines were found in the new Airbus A320neo aircraft of Wizz Air's fleet, requiring additional servicing or replacement.
According to Ryanair's forecasts, these aircraft problems will reduce cargo capacities in Europe, leading to increased ticket prices in the summer of 2024.
