Ryanair adds three Boeing 737 MAX 8200 aircraft to London Luton Airport
Ryanair will add three additional Boeing 737 MAX 8200 aircraft to its London Luton Airport (LTN) base during the summer of 2023 in order to deliver “sustainable growth” as part of Ryanair’s joint growth strategy with LTN airport.
The announcement of three new 737 MAX 8200 planes means that the airport will have increased capacity, with each flight now able to carry 4% more passengers. Ryanair has also claimed that the addition of the new aircraft will assist in meeting its sustainability targets, including a 40% reduction in noise pollution and a 16% reduction in carbon emissions.
Chief executive at Ryanair DAC, Eddie Wilson, stated that the selection of Luton as the destination for the new aircraft aligns with the airport’s goals of achieving sustainable growth and reaching net-zero emissions by the year 2040.
“This significant investment at London Luton Airport forms part of a longer-term strategy between Ryanair and the Airport’s management team to deliver sustainable growth at LLA.”
While Ryanair’s most prominent hub in the United Kingdom is London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton remains a significant base for the Irish airline. Looking ahead to summer 2023, Ryanair is set to operate over 140 flights per week across 27 routes to and from London Luton Airport, including nine new routes to Bezier, Bologna, Malta, and Seville.
Also commenting on the announcement, Jonathan Rayner, Chief Commercial Officer at London Luton Airport, added:
“We are delighted to welcome the arrival of these three new fuel-efficient Ryanair aircraft at London Luton Airport. As well as our commitment to achieve Net Zero Carbon for our own airport emissions by 2040, we are working closely with our airlines to reduce their emissions, and Ryanair’s investment in these next-generation aircraft is an exciting development that underlines its commitment to working sustainably with LLA.”
The Boeing 737 MAX 8200, also known as the “Gamechanger,” is a member of the 737 MAX family that offers ultra-high-density seating for up to 197 passengers, up from 189 in the airline’s youngest Boeing 737-800s.
Ryanair was the launch customer of this specific aircraft model, taking delivery of the first MAX 8200 variant in 2021. In a monumental deal, Ryanair ordered a total of 210 737 MAX 8200 aircraft from Boeing, valued at $22 billion. According to ch-aviation.com, Ryanair is currently operating 100 MAX 8200 jets, which have an average age of just 1.5 years. However, the airline is still awaiting the delivery of an additional 110 MAX 8200 aircraft.
Apart from the newer 737 MAX 8200 aircraft, the European low-cost carrier also operates a fleet of 397 older generation Boeing 737-800s, in addition to a single Boeing 737-700 jet. Furthermore, Ryanair’s subsidiary, Lauda Europe, operates 29 Airbus A320-200s. Despite operating a fleet of leased A320s, the airline has decided to transition to an entirely Boeing 737 fleet. However, Ryanair’s subsidiary has encountered difficulties in securing a new deal for Boeing 737 aircraft.
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