Ryanair has announced that it will close some of its bases as a result of the late delivery of the Boeing MAX aircraft that it has ordered.
The move is not unexpected as in July a spokesperson for the airline stated: “Due to the late delivery of up to 30 Boeing MAX aircraft this winter a number of Ryanair bases will be closed this winter.
“Consultations are taking place with our people at affected bases currently. No routes will be affected as they will be served by flights from other bases from November when the winter schedule starts.”
The airline is expecting to receive its first Boeing 8200, Ryanair’s new name for the MAX, early next year.
“Ryanair will now revise its summer 2020 schedule based on 30 incremental aircraft, rather than 58. This will cut Ryanair’s summer growth rate from 7% to 3% and means full year traffic growth for the year, to March 2021 will be cut from 162 million guests to approximately 157 million,” said Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.
The airline has not disclosed which bases are likely to be closed, however, industrial action at some of these, offers a clue as to which sites it might be.
According to Portuguese media, Faro Airport will be one of the bases which Ryanair will close this winter.
