Ryanair ends jet order talks with Boeing over price dispute

Boeing faces a standoff with one of its biggest customers after Ireland’s Ryanair said it had ended talks over a purchase of 737 MAX 10 jets worth tens of billions of dollars due to differences over price. The rare decision to go public over big-ticket airplane negotiations comes after months of wrangling that had already delayed a deal for the largest version of the 737 MAX when Ryanair re-ordered a smaller model in December. A large new Ryanair order would provide a boost to the U.S. plane maker as it rebuilds confidence in the MAX, grounded for 20 months until November after two fatal crashes. It would also speed a tentative industry recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Europe’s largest budget carrier is already the region’s largest MAX customer with 210 of the 197-seat MAX 8-200 on order. It has dangled a fresh order potentially worth $33b at list prices for up to 250 of the 230-seat MAX 10. Even after steep industry-wide discounts such a deal would still be worth well over $10b, analysts estimate.<br/>