Delivery Schedule Moved Forward
The American plane maker will transfer 25 aircraft to the Irish low-cost carrier earlier than expected. Instead of arriving next spring, the 737 MAX jets are now set to be handed over in October, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary revealed on Wednesday. He applauded Boeing’s efforts, describing the workmanship as “first-class,” and expressed optimism that U.S. authorities would quickly approve the new fleet.
Manufacturer Under Pressure
Boeing continues to grapple with a troubled track record of safety and quality issues. The 737 MAX was involved in several fatal crashes tied to system failures, shaking global confidence. In one case, a door section broke away during a flight. These incidents led regulators in the U.S. to ground the model temporarily and later restrict monthly output to no more than 38 aircraft. Earlier this year, Boeing signaled its plans to seek approval to expand production levels.
Strategic Gain for Ryanair
The rescheduled handover comes at an important moment for Ryanair. The airline was forced to cancel about 700 services due to widespread disruptions from air traffic control strikes, particularly in France. Even so, demand has remained solid, O’Leary noted. With 70 percent of September seats already sold, he expects to offset much of the lost revenue and confirmed the company’s forecasts remain unchanged.
