Ryanair’s Biggest Planes Are Waiting on One Software Question

Ryanair says it still expects to receive its first Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft in the spring of 2027, even though U.S. regulators have put the jet’s certification on hold. Chief executive Michael O’Leary told a press conference in Poland on Tuesday that the airline does not know the full extent of the issue but does not believe it is significant or that it will cause a substantial delay. His comments were the first from a major MAX 10 customer since the certification pause became public.

The hold-up centres on software. The MAX 10 had been expected to win Federal Aviation Administration certification within weeks, but the FAA is now waiting to determine whether a recently flagged concern amounts to a safety-of-flight issue. Boeing has already told all 737 operators about a glitch in the MAX’s navigation system that can increase pilot workload when a crew needs to abort a landing. Boeing had planned a permanent fix for 2028 and is now trying to bring that timeline forward.

For Ryanair, the stakes are about growth rather than replacement. The carrier has firm orders for 150 MAX 10s, with options on 150 more, and the first 15 are needed to add roughly two to three per cent to its capacity next summer. The MAX 10 is the largest version of the 737 and can seat up to about 230 passengers in Ryanair’s configuration, compared with around 180 to 197 on its existing Boeing jets, which lowers the cost of flying each passenger.

Travellers will not see these aircraft until at least next spring, and any certification slip would mainly show up as fewer extra seats rather than cancelled flights. It is worth watching, though. European short-haul capacity is already tight, and Ryanair’s growth plans for summer 2027 influence fares across the Mediterranean. If the MAX 10 arrives on time, expect Ryanair to deploy the bigger jets on its busiest routes first, which could help keep fares competitive on high-demand leisure corridors.

Sources: The Irish Times (Bloomberg), Majorca Daily Bulletin