Ryanair says European delays may mean no 737 MAX jets for next summer

Ryanair may not receive any 737 MAX aircraft from Boeing (BA.N) in time for its summer season due to European delays in testing the grounded jets, CE Michael O’Leary said. O’Leary said Tuesday that testing in Europe was running behind the US schedule due to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) wanting to be seen as independent from US regulators, meaning the model was likely to remain grounded in the region until April or May. Ryanair estimates the issue is costing it at least E100m a year. A trimmed passenger traffic forecast from the low-cost carrier last week was still based on 10 MAX deliveries by June, down from previously reduced expectations of 20 and the 60 originally scheduled. “We’re still looking to meet with Boeing in mid-early January,” O’Leary said. “We expect the MAX to be back flying in early January, particularly in North America. We think it could be a bit slower in Europe because the EASA seems to be dragging their heels a little bit. Maybe ten (MAX), maybe none, maybe 15, in advance of summer 2020. The critical thing for us is that the aircraft returns to service... The implications for the next 12 months are that we will be short of our original fleet growth aspirations.”<br/>