Ryanair have always been very pragmatic in the way they operate.
Personally this seems more like it’s fuelled by Brexit. I can see things working out with the Max later this year and Brexit being resolved and then they will find themselves short of pilots again as demand will start going back up.
The UK Economy has been in a bit of limbo as everyone is nervous. Once resolved it will be like the property market was a few years ago where it made up for all of the lost time.