It was a few years ago: During the Paris Air Show 2019, the then IAG CEO Willie Walsh signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 200 Boeing 737 Max. These were to be fleeted with Level Europe, Vueling and British Airways, among others. The last-named carrier was to fly this pattern mainly from London-Gatwick. Then it was quiet for a long time.

Only now have at least fifty units been firmly ordered. Remarkably, 25 Boeing 737 Max 200s, ordered in large numbers by competitor Ryanair, were also chosen. It is a special variant of the 737 Max 8, which, to put it simply, has narrower seating and can therefore carry more passengers. Aviation:Direct took a closer look at Malta Air's Boeing 737 Max 200 from the passenger's perspective. The report can be found with this link.

The International Airlines Group said the other 25 aircraft on order will be the Boeing 737 Max 10 version. This is not yet approved. The 50 fixed orders are to be delivered between 2023 and 2027. The group of companies has not yet explicitly stated which group-internal operator will be equipped with the Boeing 737 Max. It is only said that these will replace older aircraft at British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level.

IAG also has options for 100 more Max series aircraft. The total order value according to list prices is around 6,2 billion euros. However, it can be assumed that IAG was able to negotiate a much lower price.