Ryanair Expects Boeing MAX Deal 'Will Come [Its] Way Eventually', Says CEO; To Appeal After Court Backs EU Order To Repay Austrian Airport Aid

Ryanair expects a large deal with Boeing on an order for the 737 MAX 10 "will come our way eventually" as cancellations put pressure on the US plane maker, but the airline is in no hurry, a senior executive has said.

"We believe that it will come our way eventually," Eddie Wilson told Newstalk Radio when asked about the deal, citing the number of cancelled orders that Boeing has suffered.

"We're not in a hurry to do something," said Wilson, who is the chief executive of Ryanair DAC, which is the largest airline in the Ryanair Group, speaking weeks after the Irish airline abruptly ended talks citing a price rise earlier this month.

Ryanair To Appeal After Court Backs EU Order To Repay Austrian Airport Aid

In other Ryanair news, Ryanair has said that it will appeal a ruling by Europe's second-highest court rejecting its challenge against an EU order to repay millions of euros in illegal aid given by an Austrian airport.

The Luxembourg-based General Court also dismissed a challenge by TUIfly on the same issue.

The European Commission in its 2016 decision said that certain airport services and marketing agreements between the operator of Klagenfurt airport in southern Austria and Ryanair, TUIfly and HLX - which was merged with Hapagfly in 2007 to create TUIfly - gave the carriers an unfair advantage.

The EU competition watchdog said that the lossmaking deals amounted to state aid for the airlines as they reduced their operating costs.

It estimated the illegal aid to Ryanair at approximately €2 million, to TUIfly at €1.1 million and to HLX at €9.6 million. Both Ryanair and TUIfly subsequently challenged the decisions.

The Court agreed with the Commission in both cases. Ryanair's appeal will now be heard by the EU Court of Justice, Europe's highest.

The cases are T-448/18 Ryanair and Others v Commission, and T-447/18 TUIfly v Commission.

News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.