Ryanair plans to integrate Comac aircraft into its fleet as early as the next decade in order to put pressure on Boeing and Airbus to accelerate their production. The group’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, stated that the Chinese manufacturer could become a viable supplier by 2030, provided it manages to increase its production capacity and obtain the necessary certifications.
« I hope we can choose between three suppliers in the early 2030s: Boeing, Airbus, or Comac, but we have to wait and see what happens between 2026 and 2030, » O’Leary told the Irish Independent, adding that « the current challenge is that aircraft production is very low. »
The airline has maintained ties with the Chinese manufacturer for over ten years. It has even signed a design agreement. However, it believes the manufacturer is still far from offering an aircraft suited to the operational requirements of a low-cost carrier.
Currently, it produces approximately 60 C919s per year, a figure well below Boeing’s production rate of around 43 737 MAX aircraft per month.
The Chinese aircraft recently began its evaluation process with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Shanghai, a crucial step for its future certification in Europe.
However, O’Leary believes the aircraft’s current configuration, with approximately 180 seats, doesn’t align with Ryanair’s high-density model, which uses larger aircraft.
Another factor jeopardizing COMAC’s viability is its reliance on Western suppliers.
« It’s essentially a sub-assembly of the Airbus A320, » O’Leary stated, noting that components such as avionics and engines are sourced from companies like GE, Honeywell, and Collins.
Currently, the company has nearly 1,000 firm orders from Chinese airlines and lessors, although only 31 aircraft are in regular service.