LOW-COST airline Ryanair trimmed its passenger traffic forecast yesterday, saying it would cut summer capacity and an unspecified number of jobs as a result of further delays in returning Boeing's grounded 737 Max aircraft to service.

Ryanair has scrapped planned summer operations from bases in Nuremberg and Stockholm Skavsta, as well as some flights from other bases, "solely due to delivery delays" to Max jets on order from Boeing, the firm said.

It also cut its traffic forecast to 156m passengers for the year to 31 March 2021 from 157m.

"We are continuing to work with Boeing, our people, our unions and our affected airports to minimise these capacity cuts and job losses," Ryanair added.

The 737 Max, Boeing's fastest selling aircraft, was grounded in March after two crashes in which a total of 346 people died.

US airlines have so far canceled planned Max flights until March and a return to service is likely to take longer in Europe.

Ryanair, one of the biggest Max customers with 210 planes on order, is working with "a steadily declining number" of deliveries expected by summer, group chief executive Michael O'Leary said during a court hearing in Dublin.

Shares rose 1.8 per cent to €13.85 despite the news.

Reuters

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