Following provocative remarks made by Ryanair’s outspoken CEO Michael O’Leary, a United States Congressman has issued a stern warning to the European budget carrier regarding potential future aircraft acquisitions from Chinese manufacturer COMAC.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic Congressman representing Illinois, wrote a letter to the budget airline’s CEO. In the letter, Krishnamoorthi highlighted COMAC’s close ties to the Chinese government. He furthermore echoed US concerns regarding the alleged illicit acquisition of foreign intellectual property by the Chinese aerospace company.
‘Respectively, American and European airlines should not even consider a future purchase from Chinese military companies,’ stated Krishnamoorthi’s letter, which was obtained by Reuters news agency. The Chinese government has consistently denied allegations of its commercial entities engaging in intellectual property theft. Let alone utilising it to advance Chinese military capabilities.
O’Leary’s Bold Statements
O’Leary’s initial comments that triggered the congressman’s response were made in late March during an interview with the US aviation news website skift.com. In characteristic fashion, the Ryanair CEO employed a blunt negotiating tactic, publicly applying pressure and using strong language. “The Chinese are building a f**king A320. So if it’s cheap enough, 10% to 20% cheaper than the Airbus, we’ll order it,” O’Leary stated at the time.
Ryanair is currently facing significant delays in the delivery of numerous Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Deliveries from the American aerospace giant have been protracted, and the MAX 10 variant is still awaiting certification. O’Leary further suggested that Ryanair might postpone future Boeing orders if import tariffs on US-made aircraft remain in place.
European Approval Unlikely in the Near Term
Despite Ryanair’s provocative rhetoric, the prospect of COMAC aircraft operating in Europe appears improbable for the foreseeable future. Neither the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) nor the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet certified COMAC’s aircraft, and there are currently minimal indications that such certifications are imminent. Furthermore, China’s own disregard of American-made Boeing aircraft imports does little to encourage reciprocal certification efforts.