Contributor - Europe

Cathy Buyck

Ryanair hopes&nbsp;the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will finalize the licensing process of the Boeing 737 Max 200 in the coming days, paving the way for Europe’s largest LCC to finally take delivery of its first example in April. Following a commitment for 100 airplanes in September 2014, the airline became the launch customer for the high-density Max 8 variant and should have received its first example in April 2019.

 


“We hope that the [Max] 8-200 will be certified by the FAA sometime later this week and then by EASA later this week or early next week,” Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary said during an online press conference on Wednesday. Based on this, the company expects to take delivery of eight Max 200s in April and eight in May, but none in June. That would leave it with just 16 Maxes for the summer 2021 season, or eight less than it anticipated in February.

 


O’Leary, however, did not seem concerned. “Given that at this point in time we will only operate about 80 percent of our pre-Covid capacity [in July, August, and September], we do not need these aircraft,” he said, adding that the airline does, however, remain&nbsp;eager to get them to allow it to begin training pilots and cabin crew.

 


Ryanair in December raised its firm order from 135 to 210 airplanes, thanks to what O’Leary has described as “a modest discount provided to us by Boeing.” Even though the Max 200 can accommodate 200 seats in a single-class layout, Ryanair will configure them with 197 seats. The group plans to spread its Maxes among its AOCs, with aircraft painted in Ryanair, Buzz, and Malta Air liveries. Its Austrian subsidiary, Lauda, operates Airbus A320s.

 


Separately, O’Leary sounded optimistic about short-haul travel this summer on the back of a successful Covid-19 vaccination rollout in the UK and an expected acceleration of the pace of inoculations in the EU by June. “I see very little [travel] restrictions remaining in place,” he said, adding that the group could adjust up or down capacity depending on the recovery of demand.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Ryanair CEO Expects FAA Certification of 737 Max 200 This Week 

Europe’s largest LCC expects to take delivery of its first high-seat density Max 8 in April and operate just 16 of them across its network this summer. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft