Ryanair plays the Boeing waiting game with potential order of up to 300 B737s

The latest round of Ryanair's aircraft purchase negotiations through the press may indicate a troubling truth for the carrier: its business is not wanted.

For a potential 300 aircraft order, which has been lingering since 2009, Ryanair wants the favourable pricing it secured in 2002 for 100 B737s. Back then the industry was at rock bottom and Boeing was eager to sign for 100 aircraft. Now, even after a recent depression and possibly entering a second, narrowbody backlogs are hearty - and more diverse. Boeing has acknowledged its market outlooks from the last decade did not foresee the rapid growth of LCCs, and especially from those based in Asia Pacific. This larger pool gives airframers more potential customers to woo, and the customers may pay Boeing more than whatever deep discount Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary extracts, or they may pay the exact same but be more pleasant to do business with.