Ryanair Prepares For Imminent First Boeing 737 MAX Delivery

Simple Flying

By Tom Boon

Published Apr 14, 2021

RENTON, WA - NOVEMBER 18: Boeing 737 Max airplanes sit parked at the company's production facility on November 18, 2020 in Renton, Washington. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today cleared the Max for flight after 20 months of grounding. The 737 Max has been grounded worldwide since March 2019 after two deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary confirmed the airline's first Boeing 737 MAX delivery is imminent. The aircraft is set to be delivered to the Irish low-cost airline in the next couple of days, having initially been expected around two years ago.

Delivery imminent

It seems as though delivery of Ryanair's next Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is imminent. According to Reuters, O'Leary told CNBC,

"We’re in the next number of days taking the first delivery of our new 737 Gamechanger aircraft."

No entry to service date has yet been given for the Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX. However, Simple Flying understands that Ryanair intends to fly its new aircraft as soon as it can. With the FAA and EASA's certification of the 737 MAX 8200 having been completed, the airline should be able to fly its new aircraft straight away.

A new type for Ryanair and the world

With the Boeing 737 MAX arrival, Ryanair is becoming the launch customer for a new type of plane. Ryanair will be the first airline to operate the 737 MAX 8200, a special variant of the jet designed to seat up to 200 people. Ryanair is expected to seat 197 passengers on the type.

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The catch with the design is that to accommodate an increased number of passengers, the aircraft is equipped with another set of emergency exits. Alongside Ryanair, VietJet is also expected to take delivery of the 737 MAX 8200.

Ryanair 737 MAX — The Boeing 737 MAX 8200 has an additional exit to facilitate higher passenger numbers. Photo: Boeing

A gamechanger for Ryanair?

Ryanair has coined the term 'gamechanger' to describe its 737 MAX aircraft, and it seems that it will be for the airline. Firstly, the airline can fit more seats onboard the plane, meaning that more passengers can buy tickets for a flight, boosting revenue.

However, with the addition of another emergency exit row, the airline will also claim more revenue from selling extra leg-room rows. However, the plane is also a gamechanger when it comes to the environment. Firstly, it is already more efficient than the older 737s. However, with more seats, the emissions are even lower per passenger.

Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX in flight — The Boeing 737 MAX will be a gamechanger economically and environmentally. Photo: Ryanair

A look at Ryanair's Boeing 737 MAX order

To date, Ryanair is expecting to take delivery of 210 firm aircraft orders. Following the type's ungrounding, the airline placed its latest order for MAX jets in early December. This boosted the firm number by 75, increasing the order's total value to over $22 billion.

Several times it has been mentioned that Ryanair is interested in ordering the larger Boeing 737 MAX 10. Were this to go ahead, the airline groups' fleet would increase to five aircraft, although most would share common parts. These would be,

Airbus A320 (Lauda)
Boeing 737-700 (Executive jet)
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737 MAX 8200
Boeing 737 MAX 10

Of course, we'll have to wait and see whether Ryanair does go ahead to place an order for the 737 MAX 10.

Are you excited to see Ryanair's first Boeing 737 MAX delivery? Will you fly on the LCC's MAX planes? Let us know what you think and why in the comments!