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Low-cost airline Ryanair has warned over plans for cuts and closures at some of its bases from this winter due to delays to aircraft deliveries amid the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crisis.<\/p>\nLow-cost airline Ryanair has warned over plans for cuts and closures at some of its bases from this winter due to delays to aircraft deliveries amid the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crisis.<\/p>\n
The carrier said it is taking action to reduce its services after slashing its expected growth rate for the summer 2020 from 7% to 3%.<\/p>\n
It is in talks with airports over which loss-making bases will be affected and is set to consult with staff and unions over the planned \u201cshort-term\u201d cuts and closures for winter 2019 through to summer 2020.<\/p>\n
It comes after all Boeing 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide earlier this year following two fatal crashes in Ethiopia and off the coast of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Ryanair is waiting for delivery of Boeing\u2019s MAX 200s \u2013 a version of the MAX aircraft \u2013 which will need to be certified separately by aviation authorities.<\/p>\n
The firm said it \u201cremained committed\u201d to the B737 MAX aircraft and expects it will return to flying service before the end of the year, but admitted the exact date is \u201cuncertain\u201d.<\/p>\n
The MAX 200 jets it has ordered are set to be approved within two months of the MAX\u2019s return to service.<\/p>\n
The delays mean Ryanair plans to cut its aircraft to 30 for next summer, down from 58.<\/p>\n
Full-year passenger traffic growth is now forecast at around 157 million for the year to March 2021, down from 162 million previously expected.<\/p>\n
Ryanair boss Michael O\u2019Leary said: \u201cRyanair remains committed to the B737 MAX aircraft, and now expects that it will return to flying service before the end of 2019 \u2013 however, the exact date of this return remains uncertain.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoeing is hoping that a certification package will be submitted to regulators by September with a return to service shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n
We believe it would be prudent to plan for that date to slip by some months, possibly as late as December<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThis shortfall in aircraft deliveries will necessitate some base cuts and closures for summer 2020, but also for the winter 2019 schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group said it hopes to \u201crestore our growth to normal levels in summer 2021.\u201d<\/p>\n