I’m not sure whether to be surprised by this move or not…
In this post:
IAG allocates Boeing 737 MAX order to Vueling
In 2022, International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling, placed an order for at least 50 Boeing 737 MAXs. This includes 25 737 MAX 8-200s (the 737 MAX 8, but with an extra exit, to allow for increased capacity) and 25 737 MAX 10s (the largest variant of the 737 MAX, which hasn’t yet been certified). On top of that, there are options for 100 more aircraft.
At the time, the airline group didn’t allocate those planes to any specific airline, but instead, that allocation was only going to happen at a later point. The 737 MAX order was interesting, since up until that point, all IAG carriers exclusively operated Airbus A320-family aircraft. However, as we know, IAG is also an opportunistic buyer, and presumably scored a deal.
There’s now an interesting update, as IAG has revealed that it has allocated its order for 50 737 MAXs to Spanish ultra low cost carrier Vueling. The airline is expected to start taking delivery of those planes as of late 2026.
For context, Vueling’s fleet currently consists of nearly 140 Airbus A320-family aircraft, including the A319, A320, A320neo, A321, and A321neo. The airline has roughly an additional 35 Airbus planes on order, between A320neos and A321neos.
I’m curious how this fleet transition works out
I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising that IAG is allocating these 737 MAXs to Vueling, given that the airline group ordered the 737 MAX 8-200, which is primarily used by ultra low cost carriers (given its higher capacity, due to the extra emergency exit). Then again, I wouldn’t have put it past British Airways to also fly 737 MAX 8-200s, so… 😉
I think what does surprise me a bit is that it sounds like Vueling will be going for a mixed Airbus and Boeing fleet. In other words, it’s not that the airline is gradually retiring Airbus planes and eventually moving to an all-Boeing fleet, as the airline is also taking delivery of new A320neos and A321neos.
I suppose that both the Airbus and Boeing fleets could be big enough in the long run that there are economies of scale, and having a mixed fleet isn’t bad for Vueling’s bottom line, especially since I assume IAG got a great deal on these aircraft. Still, it’s surprisingly rare to see this.
Looking at IAG, this does still leave the question of what Aer Lingus’ long term short haul fleet renewal looks like. The airline has 27 A320s and seven A320neos, with only one additional A320neo on order. You’d think the airline would be due for more planes, but I suppose Aer Lingus’ position in IAG is similar to Austrian’s position in Lufthansa Group (which is to say the companies don’t get as much attention as they deserve).
Bottom line
A few years ago, IAG placed an order for Boeing 737 MAXs, though didn’t state which airline in the group would be getting the planes. It has now been revealed that these jets are headed to Vueling, the group’s Spanish low cost carrier.
I suppose that’s not too surprising, though it is interesting to see an ultra low cost carrier intentionally going for a split fleet, since that’s quite rare.
What do you make of Vueling taking delivery of Boeing 737 MAXs?
I've flown on Vueling just once on a short haul from Bilbao to CDG. It was one of those situations where I was on an airline in a place in the world where if I had spoken to the right people or been otherwise but deeply indoctrinated from infancy, I would have understood the Spanish Civil War and the cultural and social consequences, or for that matter had an idea about why a Catholic man...
I've flown on Vueling just once on a short haul from Bilbao to CDG. It was one of those situations where I was on an airline in a place in the world where if I had spoken to the right people or been otherwise but deeply indoctrinated from infancy, I would have understood the Spanish Civil War and the cultural and social consequences, or for that matter had an idea about why a Catholic man like Hemingway probably made a rational decision to commit suicide.
I pronounce Vueling. Basque country and Valencia - that is going to be their airline in Spain. Does their rating suffer due to relatively few on time arrivals?
How do airline retrain their pilots to transition from the A320 to B737? Or do they just hire new pilots?
I am guessing all of these Boeing haters have not flown the Max and no nothing about it's performance. Ignorance is bliss.
Clearly personal safety is more important to some than others. Those who burry their heads in the sand are the one’s who are blissfully ignorant, yes?
The Boeing engineering design and production faults are well documented. As is the $ driven ethos of the management team.
The U.S. commercial airline passengers have been subjected to the Boeing propaganda machine for decades, swallowing every drop of toxic rhetoric.
Wake up and smell the coffee Lack of Brains.
Those who “Lack Brains” are clearly content to live with their heads buried in the sand. They have no sense of self preservation.
It is well documented that Boeing design, engineering and production faults pervade the manufacturing of Boeing aircraft. That the $ rules the ethos of the management team and not human the preservation of human life.
Look no further than the MAX or the 777X for such proof.
Fly the MAX at your peril Lack of Brains …. poor darlink.
Of course they will..for a low-cost airline. The list-price of a 737Max is about $2M cheaper than that of an Airbus A320. (Not much, but it all adds-up) However, I still feel the quality, 'feel' and science behind an Airbus, is better than that of a Boeing. IMHO.
They're probably selling for a much bigger discount from the list price too.
This is not very surprising really. Lufthansa also got a great deal on the 40 737 Max 8s they ordered (some say they were almost free) and these will be going to Eurowings operating alongside the Airbus fleet.
Ryanair also operates a 26 strong Airbus fleet based in Vienna.
They aren't based in Vienna anymore. They're based in Malta. Keep up to date. Niki Lauda's dead, you know.
I am pleased that the 737s aren't coming to British Airways, who retired their last 737s years ago, at LHR or LGW. That would have been a retrograde step.
I'm not sure why you describe VY as a ULCC when it's much more like easyJet than Ryanair.
They're barely a low-cost carrier, let alone ultra low. easyJet don't sell through tickets and they certainly don't have a bunch of codeshares on their routes!
Maybe I am paranoid, but I have been steadfast in avoiding MAXs ever since the crashes in 2018/2019. I know corporate America, and this product is just so emblematic of that. I don’t trust it it can ever be made a safe plane to fly.
Same here. I am not taking the risk for a few more years.
One was hardly likely to set a foot inside any Vueling aircraft before, now with the forthcoming Boeing Max order one definitely never will do so.
If it’s Boeing (MAX) I ain’t going!
Afterthought …. The current American administration is becoming as toxic as the EU political parliamentarians and the weak, woke labour political loons who ’U-turn’ daily.
Of course, you only fly Delta, Tim, so you're not going to encounter a MAX. I, on the other hand, have flown many MAXes and a few Airpus 321s that UA foolishly bought, and prefer the MAX in every way.
You poor darlink ORD ….. how unfortunate.
Quite frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Re the comments about coercion and trade deals - those are potentially more relevant to IAG's decision that the 787s should have a mix of GE and RR engines, with BA specifically opting for the GE engine. Admittedly, there is a benefit for BA in that the GE engines can be maintained at the GE facility in South Wales, but equally they could be maintained by RR in the UK.
The Decision by BA to select the GE engine is simple: the T1000 engine is not performing, and forces BA (and all other B787 T1000 operators, for that matter) to ground aircraft (not as bad as A320neo/A220/E2 GTF powered aircraft, but still).
The 737MAX order came way before the tariff/trade deal saga and was probably heavily discounted because part of the deal was a component maintenance deal for IAG A320 fleet(s) attributed to BGS...
The Decision by BA to select the GE engine is simple: the T1000 engine is not performing, and forces BA (and all other B787 T1000 operators, for that matter) to ground aircraft (not as bad as A320neo/A220/E2 GTF powered aircraft, but still).
The 737MAX order came way before the tariff/trade deal saga and was probably heavily discounted because part of the deal was a component maintenance deal for IAG A320 fleet(s) attributed to BGS (which was at the time a major score for BGS and part of their strategy to become a $50bn business)
I wonder whether this decision should be reviewed through the lens of which IAG brands will fly the A321LR and A321XLR. i.e. Vueling will likely never fly the A321XLR, so it may have more flexibility to move to a Boeing or mixed fleet. Whereas Iberia, Aer Lingus and potentially Level will fly the A321XLR and hence are less able to absorb 737s into the fleet without creating inefficiency. (A321XLRs would be ideal for Level flying out of BCN?)
I can't help but feel they may have been coerced into this.
Where will they put the jewish kids on those new planes?
only the ones that behave
Iberia is receiving ex-VY A320Neo and will keep receiving a few of them in the coming years. If there are any remaining AC after this, they could go to BA/EI as VY transitions to 737s
Maybe some of the a320neos will be moved to aer lingus or other IAG brands?
My hunch is something to do with the trade deals and threat of tariffs otherwise.
Trump might just be the best salesman for Boeing thesedays.
Talking about a downgrade...
Does it come with a Jew-detecting screening machine or is it a volunteer job for the people who comment on this blog
What an asinine comment.
Grotesque racism
I assume this was an incredibly poor attempt at humor??
The forst comment is someone posing as me thinking they are being funny.
I don’t expect Lucky to out them, but he can tell via email/IP address who is making these wretched comments.
Why doesn't one of you just make an account and stop this?