Ryanair CEO urges leadership continuity at Boeing in crisis

Ryanair Holdings CEO Michael O’Leary said Boeing management needs to focus on continuity as it seeks to stabilise the business, and that the new head of the commercial aircraft unit has made a promising start. Speaking in London, O’Leary said he’s held talks with Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s new head of commercial aircraft, twice in the last two weeks and that he’s optimistic Boeing will be able to ramp up output and deliver close to 40 jets to Ryanair ahead of the peak summer travel season. O’Leary urged Boeing to keep Pope in Seattle for the next two to three years in order for her to keep a close eye on production. “I think all of the signs at the moment are getting more optimistic,” O’Leary said in an interview. “Now, it’s only a week or two, but that’s the first time deliveries have actually kind of moved forward instead of continuously getting delayed backwards.” Boeing has come under increasing scrutiny from lawmakers, airlines and regulators following a near-catastrophic blowout of a fuselage panel on a 737 Max 9 during flight in early January. The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted the planemaker from raising output on the 737 Max beyond the 38-jet monthly pace until they’re satisfied the quality measures have taken root.<br/>