Ryanair orders 75 additional Boeing 737 MAX
While air traffic is at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ryanair has just placed an order for 75 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, bringing the number of aircraft awaiting delivery to 210.
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| Ryanair and Boeing signing for new 737 MAX (credits:Ryanair) |
The Irish low-cost carrier has ordered 75 Boeing 737 MAX in 2020, in addition to the 135 already ordered. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2021 and continue through 2024. The airline could have ordered MAX 10's in addition to the MAX 8-200's to increase its capacity on the most demanded destinations in the summer, but chose to focus on the MAX 8-200.
The return of the Boeing 737 MAX
The Boeing 737 MAX is gradually making a comeback, following FAA certification in December 2020. The certification of the modifications has been reviewed by various authorities around the world. In the United States, the FAA has proposed new training procedures for the Boeing 737 MAX: the modification of the AFM flight manual, ground and flight testing of AOA probes, software updates (Flight Control Computer OPS, MDS) and a change in the wiring for the elevator.
In addition, all pilots are required to complete simulator training to learn the procedures to be followed when activating the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System).
A previous order
Ryanair really entered the European market after 2001. In January 2002, while air transport was idling, Ryanair announced that it had ordered 150 Boeing 737-800s (including 50 options). This order remains to this day one of the most advantageous for an airline company.
Ryanair had received a 53% discount from the list price. List price: 70 million euros per aircraft. Final price: 33 million euros per plane. Almost 20 years later, the same technique is used by O'Leary, Ryanair's CEO.
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| A Boeing 737 800 of Ryanair taking off |
A difficult context
Boeing is facing cancellations. As of October 13, 2020, Boeing had removed 1,041 aircraft from its order book, including 1,006 Boeing 737 MAX. The aircraft manufacturer is therefore looking for customers for "white tails", white Boeing 737 MAX aircraft without operators, some of which have been grounded for nearly two years.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for new aircraft is currently at its lowest point. Airlines are currently seeking to reduce the size of their fleets. Many of the aircraft stranded during the pandemic will not return to the skies like Air France's 9 A380s.
Ryanair's goal
For Ryanair, the objective has always been to renew its fleet regularly. Thus, in 2020, the average age of its aircraft is 11.7 years according to the Planespotters site. In addition, Ryanair states in a press release: "The aircraft's performance is exceptional, offering 8 additional seats per flight, while consuming 16% less fuel and reducing noise emissions by 40%. ». In addition, the 737 MAX has more capacity: the 737 MAX 200 can accommodate 197 passengers. By way of comparison, Southwest, a low-cost U.S. airline, has a seating configuration of 175 passengers.
The low-cost airline hopes to take advantage of the upturn in air traffic to gain market share in Europe. For the moment, the coronavirus crisis continues to paralyze air transport.
