Fleet Analysis: Ryanair Group before the next Boeing 737 Max order

Ryanair just announced it restarted talks with Boeing for a new large order for the 737-10 Max or for the smaller 737-8 Max 200 jets. Let’s take a look at the airline’s fleet of 500+ jets, consisting mainly of 737s, operated by Ryanair, Malta Air, Lauda Europe and Buzz.

Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary there was a ‘deal to be done’ with negotiations between the Irish airline and Boeing in “the early stages” for a new order of Boeing 737 jets, during an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday Mar. 23.

“We are back talking to them, which I think is an indication there is some movement on pricing . . . I think there is a deal to be done,” the report quoted O’Leary as saying. Boeing declined to comment, while Ryanair did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Ryanair Group operates mainly Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and as of February 2023:

• 410 Boeing 737-800 seating 189 in economy class and operated by Ryanair, Malta Air and Buzz.
• 91 (+119 on order) Boeing 737-8 Max 200 seating 197 in economy class and operated by Ryanair Malta Air and Buzz.
• 1 Boeing 737-700 seating 60 in business-class layout. Used for corporate charters and training.
• 29 Airbus A320-200 seating 180 in economy class and operated by Lauda Europe, leases are extended to 2028.

After delays due to the grounding of the 737 Max, the first 737- 8 Max 200 was finally delivered to Ryanair on 16 June 2021. Twelve deliveries were expected for the summer 2021 season (6 for Ryanair and 6 for Malta Air) and a further 50 by summer 2022.

In July 2021, it was announced that Ryanair had already handed back all of its leased 737s, which were replaced by incoming 737-8 Max 200 aircraft. The carrier expects to sell more of its older aircraft in the future.

In November 2022 the company announced it would have 124 Boeing 737-8 Max 200 by summer 2023, reducing the number of unfulfilled orders to 86 aircraft.

In January 2023, the first Ryanair 737-800 to be retrofitted with split scimitar winglets entered service, reducing fuel burn by 1.5%, and are to be fitted to all existing aircraft in the Ryanair fleet.

Ryan has 119 Boeing 737-8 Max 200 on order right now, so it is likely the new order will be for more Max 200s and a mix of 737-10 and-9s to replace the 29 leased Airbus 320s and the older 737-800s.

FT.com, Reuters.com & AirGuide Business