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Ryanair planes are seen at Dublin Airport, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Dublin, Ireland.
Jason Cairnduff | Reuters
Ryanair is close to placing an order for dozens of additional Boeing 737 Max jets in a business boost for the US aircraft maker after regulators lifted a 20-month safety ground, industry sources said.
Europe’s largest low-fare carrier, which has the option to expand its current order by 75 planes to 210 planes, declined to comment. Boeing could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ryanair has been negotiating for months to expand its order for 135 aircraft as part of discussions with Boeing on compensation for delays caused by grounding, but a decision was not expected until the aircraft was cleared to resume operations. flights.
US and European regulators lifted the nearly two-year flight ban last month following changes to software and cockpit training.
Ryanair is one of Boeing’s largest customers worldwide and an order from the Irish airline is seen as a pivotal moment in Boeing’s efforts to rehabilitate the 737 Max, which was once its fastest-selling model.
The upgraded single-aisle aircraft was grounded in March 2019 after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed a total of 346 people, sparking multiple investigations.
Each Max is worth around $ 125 million at list prices, but the jets typically sell for about half their list value and Ryanair is expected to get even bigger discounts for placing a key order amid cancellations. from some buyers, sources said.
Alaska Airlines agreed last month to lease 13 Boeing Max jets.
Boeing shares rose marginally to $ 213.38 in pre-market trading.
Aviation photographer Michael Kelly tweeted an image of a Boeing-operated private jet landing in Dublin, fueling speculation that Ryanair bosses would travel to the United States to make an announcement, echoing a previous Boeing aircraft deal. .
In a new move to restore the plane’s reputation, American Airlines was to conduct the first post-grounding demonstration flight with the media later Wednesday.
