Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. — Reuters
LONDON: Ryanair’s chief executive officer said he was impressed by the turnaround at Boeing and had been reassured by the planemaker that it would seek approval to boost its monthly output of 737 jets to 42 per month from 38 by October.
The Irish airline, Europe’s largest by passenger numbers, has had to repeatedly cut its growth forecasts due to delays by Boeing, which is working to stabilise production after a mid-air panel blowout on a new 737 MAX in January 2024 exposed widespread production quality and safety problems.
“The quality of what they’re delivering is excellent so we’re really impressed,” Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary told reporters in London.
Ryanair has placed a firm order for 150 of the new, larger 737 MAX 10 jets as well, with O’Leary reiterating that Boeing had told him that certification of the plane was expected early next year.
He went on to tell Reuters in an interview that he was “optimistic, but not confident” of the timing of its next major delivery from Boeing, which consists of MAX 10 jets due in early 2027, and warned the airline’s growth could flatline that year if there was a delay. — Reuters
