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| A rendering of the Ryanair Boeing 737 Max 200. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 09-08-14] Boeing has launched the newest member of the 737 MAX family with a commitment from Ryanair for 100 airplanes. The European low-cost carrier will be the first airline to operate the 737 MAX 200, a variant based on the 737 MAX 8 that can accommodate up to 200 seats. In addition to the commitment, valued at $11 billion, Ryanair has options to purchase another 100 737 MAX 200s.
“Ryanair is proud and honored to become the lead operator of Boeing’s ‘gamechanger’ 737 MAX 200, which will expand our fleet to 520 aircraft by 2024 and create another 3,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers in Europe, while allowing us to grow traffic from 82 million last year to over 150 million annually by 2024,” said Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.
Boeing developed the 737 MAX 200 in response to the needs of the fast growing low-cost sector, which is forecasted to account for 35 percent of single-aisle airline capacity by 2033. While most of the single-aisle market will remain at 160 seats, the 737 MAX 200 will provide carriers with up to 11 more seats than the 737 MAX 8 by incorporating a mid-exit door increasing the exit limit.