Ryanair eyes ‘rebound’ with new 737-Max deal

Ryanair group CEO Michael O'Leary said the airline's purchase of 75 more Boeing 737-Max planes will help the airline achieve 'very strong growth' over the next five years.

Michael O’Leary has predicted a “very strong rebound” for Ryanair and the wider airline industry next year, after confirming the airline is buying significantly more of Boeing’s controversial 737-Max planes than previously planned.

Ryanair has agreed to pay Boeing around an additional $7bn (€5.8bn) for 75 more 737-Max planes and intends to fast-track their delivery to begin next spring. Ryanair already had 135 Max planes ordered. Over the next five years it will now take delivery of 210 in total, increasing the value of the total deal to over $22bn. The order will boost Ryanair’s total fleet of planes from 450 to 600.