In a letter to the CEO of Ryanair, US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has warned the low-cost carrier against purchasing Chinese-made COMAC jets.
The influential Democrat politician wrote to Michael O’Leary over security concerns if Ryanair opted to purchase COMAC’s C919, according to Reuters.
“Respectfully, U.S. and European airlines should not be even contemplating the future purchase of airplanes from Chinese military companies,” wrote Krishnamoorthi in a letter seen by the news agency.
Krishnamoorthi, who is the Ranking Member of the Select Committee focused on the Chinese Communist Party, was prompted to contact O’Leary following recent comments by the Ryanair CEO.
In an interview with Skift in March 2025, O’Leary suggested that if the price was right then the carrier would buy the COMAC’s narrowbody aircraft.
“If it was cheap enough – 10 or 20% cheaper than an Airbus aircraft – then we’d order it,” said O’Leary.
The COMAC C919 was designed to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 and is proving to be a highly desirable aircraft with Chinese airlines.
However, currently the aircraft has only been certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recently indicated that it will take three to six years to certify.
In his interview with Skift, O’Leary expressed confidence the C919 would eventually be certified by European regulators paving the way for Ryanair to operate the aircraft.
“I don’t care who makes them, whether it’s Boeing, Airbus or Comac. As long as the price is right, we’d buy it,” said O’Leary.
Krishnamoorthi’s reservations appear to stem from concerns over the close ties between COMAC and the Chinese military.
Update:
On May 1, 2025, O’Leary responded to Krishnamoorthi’s letter indicating he would look to purchase aircraft from other manufacturers, such as COMAC, if US tariffs increased the cost of Ryanair’s Boeing orders, according to Reuters.
“If the US government proceeds with its ill-judged plan to impose tariffs, and if these tariffs materially affect the price of Boeing aircraft exports to Europe, then we would certainly reassess both our current Boeing orders,” O’Leary wrote in a letter to Krishnamoorthi seen by the news agency.
According to ch-aviation, Ryanair is awaiting delivery of 29 Boeing 737 MAX 8 200s and 150 MAX 10s.
