Ryanair has informed Boeing that they are willing to purchase any 737 MAX 10 aircraft that U.S. customers refuse to take delivery of at the right price. The Irish airline already has 150 firm orders for the MAX 10 and options for 150 more, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2027. Despite the Federal Aviation Administration’s grounding of MAX 9 jets, Ryanair expects the MAX 10 to be certified by the end of the year and flying early next year.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently announced that his airline would build a new fleet plan that does not include the MAX 10, citing regulatory and delivery delays as well as the incident involving a new Alaska Airlines plane. In response, Ryanair’s Group Chief Executive Michael O’Leary expressed interest in acquiring the MAX 10 aircraft that American airlines may not want. The airline’s Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan also expressed hope for the certification and delivery of the MAX 10, stating that Ryanair currently has 136 MAX 8 aircraft and 409 earlier generation 737s in their fleet, with plans to increase their fleet with more MAX 10s.
Sorahan emphasized that Ryanair sees the MAX as a great aircraft and is eager to acquire more for their growth over the next few years. However, he also noted that the airline would have the option of not selling its older 737s if needed. Overall, Ryanair remains optimistic about the MAX 10 and its potential for their operations.