IRELAND- Ryanair (FR) has officially acknowledged the discovery of unauthorized components in two engines during routine inspections of its Boeing 737 fleet.
The revelation of unauthorized parts on aircraft is increasingly becoming a concern, with numerous major airlines uncovering such components during routine maintenance, especially when engines are sent to third-party Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Unauthorized Components
Ryanair reports the discovery of components in engines that underwent overhaul processes in Brazil and Texas, USA.
The central figure in this controversy appears to be London-based AOG Technics, led by Venezuelan Jose Zamora Yrala. Although Ryanair asserts it has never engaged in direct business with AOG, it suspects the inadvertent acquisition of parts from them through a third party.
Multiple regulators and airlines have levied accusations against AOG, alleging the supply of parts with falsified documents for the CFM56 engine, which powers the Boeing 737-800, a key component of the Ryanair fleet and also utilized in A320ceo family aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK has issued a caution to airlines, advising them to consistently verify the authenticity of the paperwork, specifically the Airworthiness Release Certificates (ARC), and to contact the issuer for confirmation.
Legal proceedings are currently underway in the high court concerning these allegations, with Jose Zamora Yrala reportedly “cooperating” with authorities.
Ryanair Cuts Flights
In response to these delivery delays, Ryanair has outlined several adjustments, including reducing the number of aircraft based in Charleroi by three, Dublin by two, and decreasing the count by five aircraft across four Italian bases, including Bergamo, Naples, and Pisa.
Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, emphasized that the airline maintains regular communication with Boeing. He highlighted that their primary objective is to deliver all 57 contracted Boeing 737 aircraft by the end of May 2024. Achieving this goal will enable Ryanair to expand its fleet to exceed 600 aircraft.
O’Leary stated that the flight cancellations resulting from these delivery delays will take effect from the end of October. The affected passengers will receive email notifications in the coming days.
Ryanair is committed to providing affected passengers with options for rebooking on alternative flights or offering full refunds based on their preferences. O’Leary sincerely apologized to passengers for any inconvenience caused by these winter delivery delays.
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