Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary gave a grim forecast at the company's AGM on Thursday regarding when Boeing's problematic Max 8 model might return to service, while also revealing that payments to the manufacturer have now been frozen, according to Bloomberg.
The industry as a whole does not believe there is an immediate safety issue with Boeing's Max 8 model, which tragically killed 346 people in two accidents in quick succession in October 2018 and March 2019, according to Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. If the model were nonetheless to encounter such severe problems that authorities do not permit its return to service, it would mean a ”nightmare scenario coming true”.
In total, the world's airlines have ordered over 5,000 aircraft of the Max 8 model from Boeing, with Ryanair accounting for 135 and competitor Norwegian accounting for 110. Ryanair has now begun discussions with the aircraft manufacturer regarding costs incurred in the wake of the flight ban.
Michael O’Leary does not believe that Boeing's current forecasts of the planes being ready, recertified and approved by authorities in October will hold.
”I think we’ll have to add a few months,” he said.
The Max 8 question is Ryanair's biggest challenge right now, continued the CEO, who expects to have 30 of the aircraft in service during 2020.
”It would be devastating for the entire industry and for travellers,” said Michael O’Leary.
Source: Direct News Agency
