Ryanair maps growth plan with 737 Max jets while rivals shrink

Ryanair is planning to rekindle growth after the coronavirus crisis by negotiating incentives with traffic-starved airports and betting on the return of Boeing’s beleaguered 737 Max. The carrier is in talks with airports in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Portugal that are facing “severe cuts” in capacity as the Covid-19 pandemic batters air travel, CEO Michael O’Leary said Tuesday. The discussions involve “expanding our growing traffic in their airports over the next 18 months,” he said. “That’s very much why we want to go ahead and take delivery of the Max,” O’Leary said. “Clearly there’s going to be a huge drop in traffic in 2020, but we think in 2021, there’ll be a lot of growth opportunities there where airports will be offering significant incentives.” The CEO is planning Ryanair’s long-term recovery as the airline prepares to face off against rivals fortified by government assistance. <br/>