BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said on Tuesday that Boeing’s new management “continues to disappoint” and that the troubled U.S. group’s aircraft deliveries were facing delays.

According to the Irish company, one of Boeing’s largest customers, there is a risk that it will receive only 20 to 25 737 MAX planes by next summer, instead of the planned 29.

“Things continue to deteriorate slightly, which is disappointing,” Michael O’Leary told Reuters in an interview.

Boeing, one of the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers along with Airbus, is mired in a reputation and safety crisis after a door was torn off in mid-flight on a MAX 9 plane operated by Alaska Airlines in January.

“We are working closely with Stephanie Pope and the new team at Boeing, but they continue to disappoint us,” he added, referring to the head of Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes (BCA) division, who was appointed in March.

Last month, the aircraft manufacturer named aerospace industry veteran Kelly Ortberg as its new president and CEO.

The January 5 incident led to the resignation of Chief Executive Dave Calhoun and the departure of the previous chairman of the board, as regulators attacked the group’s safety culture, already shaken by previous crashes in 2018 and 2019.

Ryanair took delivery of five planes in July instead of the seven planned, the group’s chief executive said, adding that in August it would probably take delivery of only five of the ten planned planes.

In July, Ryanair said Boeing had warned it that some 737 MAX deliveries expected next spring would be pushed back until summer 2025, a further delay after one this year forced it to cut summer traffic volumes.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest passenger airline, has already placed 150 firm orders for the MAX 10, the largest member of the 737 family, and has options for a further 150 aircraft, with first deliveries scheduled for 2027.

The CEO further said the group no longer saw a risk of a double-digit decline in average ticket prices this summer, as weakness had stabilised.

Ryanair warned in July that summer fares would be “materially lower” than last year, potentially exceeding 10% in the July-September quarter, sending shares down 15%.

Michal O’Leary now says a 5% decline over that period “seems reasonably accurate.”

The stock rose 5.69% to 15.98 euros at around 10:20 GMT.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett and Bart Biesmans; writing by Conor Humphries and Kylie MacLellan; editing by Augustin Turpin; by Diana Mandiá)

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