Boeing has just received its first major firm order for the Boeing 737 MAX since the plane was grounded globally in March 2019. This comes just days after it was announced that both the FAA and EASA will be “ungrounding” the 737 MAX.
In this post:
Ryanair orders 75 additional 737 MAXs
Ryanair has today announced a firm order for 75 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft. The airline had already ordered 135 737 MAXs, so this brings Ryanair’s order total to 210.
For context, Ryanair placed its initial order for 100 737 MAXs back in 2014, then it ordered an additional 10 in 2017, and a further 25 in 2018. The airline had options to order additional 737 MAXs, and that’s what’s being exercised here (though for all practical purposes it’s the same as a new order, since options are no guarantees).
As Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary describes this order:
“Ryanair’s board and people are confident that our customers will love these new aircraft. Passengers will enjoy the new interiors, more generous leg room, lower fuel consumption and quieter noise performance. And, most of all, our customers will love the lower fares, which these aircraft will enable Ryanair to offer starting in 2021 and for the next decade, as Ryanair leads the recovery of Europe’s aviation and tourism industries.”
I’d imagine Ryanair got a heck of a deal on these planes with some very favorable terms. Presumably Boeing is hoping to create some momentum around 737 MAX orders, since this is the first major order in nearly two years.
In June 2019 we did see IAG (the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus) sign a letter of intent to acquire 200 737 MAXs. However, those are pretty easy to get out of, and the airline group hasn’t firmed up that order, making it seem like this may have been a publicity stunt on some level.
What’s the 737 MAX 8-200?
While many people have probably heard of the 737 MAX 8, what’s the 737 MAX 8-200? Ryanair is the launch customer for this type of aircraft, and it’s essentially a higher capacity version of the 737 MAX 8.
No, the plane isn’t actually bigger, but there are more seats crammed into it. Ryanair’s 737 MAX 8-200s will feature a total 197 seats, and per-seat fuel consumption is expected to be decreased by 16% compared to previous generation aircraft.
It’s incredible to think that Ryanair is cramming nearly 200 seats into a 737 MAX 8, and O’Leary still manages to say that passengers will enjoy the “more generous leg room.”
Why is there a separate aircraft designation for these higher configuration planes? After all, typically an airline choosing to reconfigure a plane in a certain way has nothing to do with the aircraft manufacturer, and doesn’t warrant a different aircraft designation.
Well, the reason is because the 737 MAX 8-200 has an extra set of emergency exits, due to how many seats there are. As you can see, there are four sets of emergency exits — the forward and rear doors, the over wing exits, and another set of exits between the wings and the back of the plane.
Ryanair 737 MAX 8-200, with additional exits
The branding here is interesting
Boeing has subtly been rebranding the 737 MAX 8 as the 737-8. Previously the plane was widely marketed publicly as the “MAX,” while internally the plane has always been known as the 737-8.
It’s interesting to me that in the press release, Boeing makes no secret of this being the “MAX,” and even includes that in the headline. It’s almost like Boeing is trying to rebuild trust in the 737 MAX branding now that the plane is again certified, rather than pretending the plane doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile we’ve seen Ryanair rebrand the plane — Ryanair’s 737 MAXs used to say “737 MAX” near the nose, and now say “737-8200.”
Bottom line
Ryanair has just increased its 737 MAX order from 135 planes to 210 planes. Ryanair loves a good deal, and I imagine the airline got a great deal here, without much cash down (since the airline is also in a tough financial spot).
This is also a big milestone for Boeing, as it’s the first major order for the 737 MAX since the plane was grounded in March 2019.
Ryanair’s 737 MAXs are especially unpleasant, to the point that they need an extra set of emergency exits due to how many seats they have. Or as Ryanair’s CEO describes it, the planes have “more generous leg room.”
Are you surprised to see Ryanair order more 737 MAXs, and do you think any other airlines will follow?
The "737 8200" ordered by Ryanair crams 200 passengers on an aeroplane designed to carry 175. It achieves this by reducing the seat pitch to 28in. As O'Lery says more legroom, but only for those sat in the row by the additional emergency exits. Ryanair + 737 MAX + 28in. Seat pitch - three good reasons to fly with EasyJet on their all Airbus fleet.
@Super VC10. Umm, I know, lol
Ryanair will buy anything if it's cheap. And planes with crappy safety records are usually damn cheap
So there are more seats crammed into the plane and the structural design flaws have not been resolved. But the software to regain control due to the inherent instability of the plane which doesn't occur with other planes has been improved. So no worries?
And on the bright side there are more emergency exits. Not very helpful in the event of the 737Max's preferred mode of crash, though.
Stuart wrote:
"A 737MAX with extra emergency exits may not be a bad thing."
But sadly, the horrific MAX crashes meant the emergency exits were useless; even if there had been one at each and every row. Nobody walks away from a plane that insists on plunging nose-first into the ground.
Yes, their seat configurations are not the most comfortable, but the prices are very acceptable. In 2019 I flew from England to France and my outbound leg was £9.99. Return £29.99, and that only because I need to change my date.
There is at least some chance the Boeing will be bending over backwards to "Get this one right"--Never underestimate the ability of MBA's to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory--but hope it all works out
A 737MAX with extra emergency exits may not be a bad thing.
Completely unprofessional journalism.
Well - why don't you research this as an example?
"Why is there a separate aircraft designation for these higher configuration planes? After all, typically an airline choosing to reconfigure a plane in a certain way has nothing to do with the aircraft manufacturer, and doesn’t warrant a different aircraft designation."
Confused, poorly written based on "guesses" - that is not journalism.
Just "silly guesses" and, "I think".
Case...
Completely unprofessional journalism.
Well - why don't you research this as an example?
"Why is there a separate aircraft designation for these higher configuration planes? After all, typically an airline choosing to reconfigure a plane in a certain way has nothing to do with the aircraft manufacturer, and doesn’t warrant a different aircraft designation."
Confused, poorly written based on "guesses" - that is not journalism.
Just "silly guesses" and, "I think".
Case study on how bad can journalism can get.
i believe ryaniar used this deal as part of their compensation from boeing for their existing orders.
@Dick I've flown several Ryanair flights in the last two years, and I find the seats more comfortable (or less uncomfortable) than Frontier in the US. I feel like Frontier's seats are designed to torture you.
"More generous leg room" on a plane with more rows and an extra emergency exit to take up more space. Sign me up for that!
"more generous leg room"
Compared to what exactly? Crushing your knees in a vice?
Ryanair must be trying to compete with BA for the lowest amount of legroom on short-haul flights.
I think the 75 additional aircraft were already an option for them and now they just acted upon that option, maybe this should be mentioned?
Not sure if this is the case, but Ryanair website seems to say that: https://corporate.ryanair.com/ryanair-fleet/