Boeing Max crisis hits Ryanair’s growth plans

Grounded jets: Grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft seen parked at Boeing Field in Seattle. Aviation regulators grounded the newest 737 after two crashes killed 346 people.— Reuters

LONDON: Ryanair Holdings Plc became the first airline to scale back growth plans for next summer due to the grounding of Boeing Co’s Max jet, a sign the crisis is beginning to impact long-term planning at major carriers.

With a return date for the Max still uncertain after two fatal crashes, Ryanair is likely to receive barely half of the 58 planes it was expecting for the 2020 peak schedule, the Irish company said yesterday, estimating that the reduction will wipe five million passengers from its full-year tally.