RYANAIR could revert to buying aircraft from the second-hand leasing market if Boeing do not step up production, according to boss Michael O'Leary.

O'Leary told analysts yesterday the airline was willing to work with Boeing but said the plane manufacturer's management needed to "bloody well improve" when it comes to delivering their aircraft orders, as they were "running around like headless chickens".

"Boeing needs a management reboot in Seattle and either the existing management needs to up its game or they need to change the existing management," the chief executive explained.

"We're very happy to work with existing management but they need to bloody well improve on what they've been doing delivering to us over the last 12 months."

Commenting on the news, travel expert Rob Staines said: "O'Leary's frustrations will hit hard at Boeing which is making efforts to reduce its own losses as it emerges from the pandemic and a tough trading environment.

"Operating a sole Boeing fleet, Ryanair is a major customer of the US titan and in true O'Leary style he's made it clear if issues such as delivery and pricing aren't improved, he will be marching with his feet."

At the end of last month the US manufacturer posted a $1.2bn loss, falling short of analysts' expectations in both the defence and civil aviation side of the business. The company was forced to push the delivery of its 777X jets to 2025 because of technical and supply issues.

O'Leary's comments followed Ryanair announcing yesterday morning that it had narrowed its losses from £867m to £302m, hoping to return to profitability in the current financial year.

But the chief executive said it was "impractical, if not impossible" to provide guidance at the moment because of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and the Ukraine war on holiday bookings.

While bookings had improved in recent weeks because of the summer peak, O'Leary said caution was needed when heading into winter.

According to O'Leary, travellers should be prepared to pay more this summer because of the higher demand for shorthaul destinations.

(c) 2022 City A.M., source Newspaper