Just a few days ago, Ryanair DAC boss Eddie Wilson doubted that the first Boeing 737 Max 200 could be taken over before midsummer. In the meantime, facts have been created because the EI-HEN has been removed and is on its way to Dublin.
It is the first Boeing 737 Max 200 that the group will flee. There is no date for the first commercial use. Most recently, Eddie Wilson said that the first aircraft of this type would be stationed in London-Stansted (Ryanair UK) and Bergamo (Malta Air). One of the reasons he gave for this was that there is an in-house maintenance facility at both locations.
Since the machine has an Irish registration, it remains to be seen whether the first machine will go to a subsidiary or whether it will be operated by the mainline, which has an Irish AOC. The group of companies has ordered a total of 210 machines of this type. Some of the ones destined for Buzz and Malta Air will each introduce their own livery for the subsidiaries. According to Malta Air boss David O'Brien, not all Boeing 737 Max 200 intended for the two airlines should also have their own livery. The vast majority will fly in Ryanair colors.
“We are delighted with the delivery of our first Gamechanger aircraft with new technology. These new Boeing 737 aircraft will help Ryanair cut costs, reduce fuel consumption and reduce noise and CO2 emissions as we invest heavily in new technologies to increase our environmental commitment as Europe's greenest and cleanest major airline deepen. Each B737 aircraft has 197 seats (compared to our current 737 fleet of 189 seats). However, our customers can enjoy more legroom, new Boeing “Sky Interiors” and lower airfares, all while reducing their environmental footprint by switching to these new aircraft. Due to unfortunate delivery delays, we expect the delivery of only 12 of these aircraft in the summer of 2021, with 6 in the colors of Ryanair and 6 in the colors of Malta Air. Ryanair expects to ship an additional 50 of these B737 “Gamechanger” aircraft before summer 2022, which will enable the Ryanair Group to sustainably regenerate and create new routes, lower fares and a quick recovery in traffic to many partner airports across the world Offer Europe while the tourism industry recovers from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020/2021, ”said CEO Michael O'Leary.