Latest News

Ryanair, a major Boeing customer, will see 737 production reach 48 units per month in April.

Ryanair, a major Boeing customer, said that it is confident that the U.S. aircraft manufacturer will be granted permission to increase the monthly production rate for its flagship 737 to 42 by October and to 48 by March orApril next year.

Boeing, Boeing's biggest European customer, has repeatedly had to cut its growth forecasts because of delays. Boeing is currently working to stabilize production following a mid-air blowout panel on a new 737 MAX that occurred in January 2024. This exposed widespread quality and safety issues.

Michael O'Leary is the Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair Group. His team regularly meets with Boeing management. He said he felt "fairly confident," that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will approve an increase in production monthly from 38 to 42 aircraft in October.

RYANAIR - 'Pretty Confident' about progress at Boeing

Will the FAA allow them to move to rating 48 next March or April? That would be a big jump. He said in an interview that he was "pretty confident" this would happen.

After the panel explosion, the FAA capped 737 MAX output at 38 per months in early 2024. On September 26, it said that Boeing has not requested a rate hike, but if they did, FAA safety inspectors on site would do extensive reviews.

Boeing stated earlier in the month that there were no supply chain issues that would prevent it from increasing monthly 737MAX production to 42 by the end of the year.

Boeing's other major concern is when the MAX 7 and MAX 10 will be approved by regulators. Ryanair has placed 150 MAX 10 firm orders.

Will they be able to get the MAX 7 or MAX 10 certified by 2026? Boeing tells us that they are now confident in the certification process.

O'Leary, while praising recent achievements at Boeing and expressing his gratitude for them, said that there are no guarantees.

He said, "We're confident but there is still a chance that it will be disrupted." Corina Pons is the reporter. Conor Humphries wrote the article. David Latona, Mark Potter and Mark Potter (Editing)

(source: Reuters)