BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Ryanair Chief Government Michael O’Leary raised additional doubts on Wednesday over Boeing (NYSE:)’s means to fulfil an order of its 737 MAX plane on time and can meet the planemaker in Seattle this month to debate manufacturing issues.
Ryanair, a serious Boeing buyer, has ordered 210 of the extra fuel-efficient mannequin and had obtained 73 by June. O’Leary mentioned an extra 51 of the 197-seat plane have been due by the top of April, together with 21 by the top of this yr.
“We’re involved that Boeing won’t meet these deliveries. They’re working late in the intervening time, there are issues with manufacturing in Seattle and we wish to perceive these issues,” O’Leary informed a information convention.
“They are saying they’ll. We doubt their capability to ship. We have been presupposed to get 21 plane this facet of Christmas. They’re now mumbling it is likely to be 17, it is likely to be 15. It is tough to get any specifics out of Boeing.”
Requested about O’Leary’s feedback, a Boeing spokesperson mentioned the planemaker valued its partnership with Ryanair and is dedicated to supporting the airline.
O’Leary mentioned Ryanair had agreed throughout discussions with Boeing final week to go to Seattle to determine when it could be getting the 51 plane, which it mentioned have been wanted to make sure continued progress subsequent yr.
The Irish airline flew a report variety of passengers for the fourth month in a row in August because it consolidated its place as Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers.
O’Leary mentioned in July that he was assured the plane could be delivered however involved a few doable repeat of delays this yr that compelled it to take deliveries throughout its busy summer season season.
“For the time being I do not belief what the Boeing staff in Seattle are telling us as a result of they preserve letting us down,” O’Leary informed Wednesday’s information convention, which was targeted on Ryanair plans to cease utilizing Brussels’ major airport as a base.
The airline blamed greater airport charges and a Belgian eco-tax.
