Boeing’s 737 MAX 10, the largest member of the 737 MAX family, was certified on 20 October 2026 by the US Federal Aviation Administration, clearing the way for deliveries. Ryanair, one of the largest customers for the aircraft, plans to use it as a cornerstone of its strategy to grow annual passenger numbers to 300 million by 2034.

Ryanair Holdings is headquartered in Dublin and listed on Euronext Dublin and the London Stock Exchange. For the year ended 31 March 2025, the group reported revenue of 13.95 billion euros and net profit of 1.61 billion euros.

Boeing is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: BA). For full-year 2025, it reported revenue of 89.5 billion dollars (76.6 billion euros), net earnings of 2.24 billion dollars (1.92 billion euros) and 600 commercial deliveries.

Ryanair has ordered 300 MAX 10 aircraft, comprising 150 firm orders and 150 options, in what the airline described as the largest order ever placed by an Irish company for US-manufactured goods. It expects to take its first delivery in January 2027, followed by 16 further aircraft for summer 2027.

At 43.8 metres in length, the MAX 10 is longer than the MAX 8-200 now entering service with Ryanair and substantially larger than its 737-800 fleet. It shares the common flight deck, systems architecture and CFM LEAP-1B engines of other MAX variants, and Boeing states it can seat up to 230 passengers, while Ryanair’s version will carry 228, around 20% more than its 737-800s.

For low-cost carriers, those extra seats spread operating costs across more passengers, reducing the cost per seat. Boeing describes the MAX 10 as offering the lowest per-seat operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft in service, and Ryanair has previously stated it will deliver approximately 20% lower fuel consumption per seat.

The aircraft, originally expected in 2020, was delayed by the 2018 and 2019 MAX 8 accidents and tougher certification standards, and later by engine anti-ice redesign work and software reviews.

For the sector, the certification gives Ryanair the aircraft at the centre of its plan to grow from 200 million to 300 million passengers a year.

Source: Flying in Ireland / Boeing / Travel Extra