Typically, a scenario in which a plane's doors detach mid-flight would undermine the assurance of airline executives, who depend on customer confidence for their profits. However, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has shown support for Boeing despite recent issues with its 737 Max 9 aircraft.
O'Leary is of the view that these challenges are fleeting, and that Boeing needs to increase the quality of its planes. This endorsement from such a significant customer comes during a difficult period for Boeing, which is coping with the fallout of a fuselage rupture on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9. This mishap has caused the grounding of all Max 9s.
O'Leary has previously been a critic of Boeing and its CEO, Dave Calhoun. Nonetheless, he is still enthusiastic about receiving his company's share of 737 Max 10s because of their greater passenger capacity and reduced fuel costs. He has also shown an interest in acquiring any unwanted Boeing 737 Max planes, particularly those potentially discarded by American carriers.
O'Leary was especially critical of United Airlines following comments made by its CEO Scott Kirby in the previous week. Kirby indicated that his airline was studying "alternative plans" for its fleet without including the Boeing 737 Max 10. United has orders of more than 200 of these planes, and has already been waiting for five years for the first deliveries.
Ryanair currently utilizes the older Boeing 737-800 model as well as a more contemporary high-capacity variant of the 737 Max 8. Despite not operating any of the impacted planes, O'Leary referred to the situation as "stupid." The troubled Max 9 is now being brought back into service after inspections dictated by the FAA. Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO, has similarly expressed his frustration with the situation. However, both executives still uphold their overall faith in the 737 Max program and its safety.
