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Airline tickets during the peak summer months in Europe are likely to increase in price again this year by up to 10%, according to Ryanair, due to issues with Boeing and Airbus planes.
The boss of Ryanair said that holidaymakers will face higher fares this summer due to the delayed delivery of new Boeing planes. Chief executive Michael O'Leary said that the delayed delivery of the planes will constrain capacity for passengers. He said that as a result, Ryanair's ticket prices could be up to 10% more expensive this summer.
Ryanair may need to reduce its summer schedules, which are built around the expected delivery of 50 out of the 57 Boeing Max 737-8200 aircraft that have already been ordered, said Michael O'Leary.
Boeing has come under investigation following a January incident where a component of one of its aircraft blew out during a passenger flight. Although the Alaska Airlines passenger flight didn't result in significant injuries, it necessitated an emergency landing.
Significant worries have been raised regarding the quality control of Boeing's latest airplanes, resulting in a decrease in the pace of production.
O'Leary also mentioned that prices would be higher partly due to issues with the Pratt & Whitney engines on Airbus A320 aircraft, which has led some airlines, including Wizz Air and Lufthansa, to ground some of their planes.
Ryanair’s initial forecast for the year ending in March 2025 was to transport 205 million passengers, compared to 183.5 million in the previous 12 months. O'Leary suggests that with fewer aircraft, they might need to reduce the projected 205 million to 200 million passengers.
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Foreign travel activity picked up noticeably toward the end of 2025, with both outbound trips by Bulgarians and inbound visits by foreigners posting their strongest growth in months, according to data from the National Statistical Institute.
Tourism can play a central role in boosting Bulgaria’s overall economic development, but this requires a clearly defined long-term strategy, particularly when it comes to cooperation with neighboring countries.
Wizz Air has announced a major expansion of its operations in Bulgaria, unveiling plans to base an eighth aircraft at Sofia Airport and launch five new direct routes starting in summer 2026.
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