Boeing faces a standoff with one of its biggest customers after Ireland’s Ryanair stated it had ended talks over a purchase of 737 MAX 10 jets, worth tens of billions of dollars, due to differences over price.
The rare decision to go public over big-ticket airplane negotiations comes after months of wrangling that had already delayed a deal for the largest version of the 737 MAX when Ryanair re-ordered a smaller model in December.
A large new Ryanair order would provide a boost to the US aircraft manufacturer as it rebuilds confidence in the MAX, grounded for 20 months until November after two fatal crashes. It would also speed a tentative industry recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Europe’s largest budget carrier is already the region’s largest MAX customer with 210 of the 197-seat MAX 8-200 on order. It has dangled a fresh order potentially worth US$33 billion at list prices for up to 250 of the 230-seat MAX 10.
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