The low-fare-high-fee carrier Ryanair has axed a number of flights from its winter schedules because of a delay in aircraft deliveries from Boeing, UK travel trade magazine, TTG reported on Thursday.
The airline will only receive 14 of the 27 new 737 MAX jets that it was due to receive between September and December this year. Boeing claims the delays are due to production issues at its Kansas factory and repair and delivery delays in Seattle.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: "We are working closely with Boeing and their supplier, Spirit, to minimise these delivery delays. It is deeply regrettable that production problems in Wichita, and in Seattle, have yet again delayed Boeing’s contracted deliveries to Ryanair this winter. We are in regular dialogue with Boeing, and our primary objective is to ensure we get delivery of all 57 contracted B737 aircraft before the end of May 2024, so that Ryanair’s fleet can grow to over 600 aircraft for what will be our largest ever summer flight programme. These flight cancellations will take effect from the end of Oct, and will be communicated to all affected passengers by email over the coming days. Passengers will be offered reaccommodation on alternative flights or full refunds as they so wish. We apologise sincerely to passengers for any inconvenience caused by these delivery delays this winter."