How Trump’s New Tariffs Could Ruin Your Holiday

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has warned that the airline could delay deliveries of new Boeing aircraft if Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs make them more expensive.

The budget carrier, one of Boeing’s biggest European customers, is set to receive new planes in August but may push back deliveries if trade policies drive up costs.

O’Leary told the Financial Times that Ryanair does not urgently need the aircraft until early 2026, giving the airline flexibility to postpone orders if tariffs are imposed.

“If tariffs are imposed on those aircraft, there’s every likelihood we may delay the delivery,” he said. “We might delay them and hope that common sense will prevail.”

The Ryanair chief also highlighted the looming dispute over who would absorb the extra costs—airlines or manufacturers. “The airlines will say the manufacturer must pay. I’m sure the manufacturer will insist the airline pays,” he added.

The potential tariffs come as Trump campaigns for re-election on a platform of tougher trade policies, including a 25% levy on aluminum and steel—key materials in aircraft manufacturing. Delta Air Lines has already announced it will delay Airbus orders to avoid paying additional fees.

If deliveries are postponed across the industry, reduced supply could drive up airfare prices for passengers, compounding existing inflationary pressures on travel costs.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has indicated that Trump is pushing for a trade agreement with Britain. However, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves cautioned that new tariffs would have a “profound” economic impact, acknowledging “the difficulties that lie ahead.”

As airlines and manufacturers brace for potential disruptions, Ryanair’s warning underscores the broader challenges facing the aviation sector in an era of shifting trade policies.