Ryanair has provided another update on the delayed introduction of the B737 Max aircraft into its fleet.

All Boeing Max aircraft have been grounded worldwide since March of this year, following two fatal crashes involving the jets.

The low-cost carrier now says that it has revised its schedules based on the assumption of receiving only ten of the next-generation aircraft in time of the summer 2020 timetable.

Boeing had originally scheduled to deliver 58 B737 Max aircraft to Ryanair by summer 2020, but in July the carrier revised down expectations to 30, and then further to 20 in November.

This latest downgrade in expected deliveries has led the airline to cut forecasted traffic from 157 million passengers to 156 million for the year to the end of March 2021.

As a result Ryanair says it will close two bases at Nuremberg and Stockholm Skaysta in March 2020, adding that “We also expect to cut summer capacity in a number of other existing bases”.

Commenting on the news Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson said:

“We regret these two further base closures and minor capacity cuts at other bases which are solely due to further delivery delays to our Boeing Max aircraft. We are continuing to work with Boeing, our people, our unions and our affected airports to minimise these capacity cuts and job losses.”

Ryanair has over 100 B737 Max 200 aircraft on order, which will have 197 Zodiac seats on board.

Last month US carriers American Airlines and Southwest Airlines extended the cancellation of B737 Max flights from their schedules until March 5 and March 6, 2020 respectively.

Boeing recently held a low-key unveiling for the B737 Max 10, the newest and largest variant of its Max family of aircraft, as uncertainty remains over the re-entry into service of the Max 8 and 9 variants.

ryanair.com