NORWAY- Norwegian Air (DY) is currently seriously considering converting some of its Boeing options into an order for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 variant.
This adjustment could potentially make the 737 Max 10 suitable for flying to destinations such as the Canary Islands and a yet-to-be-announced new base.
Norwegian Boeing 737 MAX 10
During Norwegian’s recent Q2 earnings call on August 24th, CEO Geir Karlsen mentioned that the airline had previously held reservations about the Max 10 due to concerns about its range. However, he noted that new information has led to a change in their perspective.
Karlsen elaborated that today, Norwegian believes the 737 MAX 10 could successfully operate routes like Oslo to Tenerife, which was not a possibility just six months ago.
“We are now seriously evaluating the option of introducing the 737 MAX 10 into our fleet,” he stated.
CEO Insights
According to Geir Karlsen, a 737 Max 10 aircraft would likely accommodate approximately 225 seats if configured by Norwegian. He further mentions that the “big Spanish destinations” such as Alicante and Malaga would align well with the capabilities of this variant.
However, there remains some uncertainty about whether the range of the MAX 10 variant would be sufficient for flights between Helsinki and the Canary Islands. Karlsen notes that this is still up for consideration.
Karlsen also alludes to the possibility of aligning the long-delayed opening of a base in Riga, which is now planned for next year, with the establishment of another non-Nordic base.
This new base could take advantage of the extended range capabilities of the Max 10 variant. He indicates that more details about this new base will be revealed soon.
Norwegian Fleet
Under an existing order for 50 737 Max 8 aircraft, expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2028, Norwegian holds options for an additional 30 aircraft.
The airline’s current fleet consists of 81 leased 737s, which are a mix of NGs and Maxes. This fleet is set to expand to 91 by the following year. Flight Global reports that the delivery of the initial 10 Max 8s from their order is anticipated in 2025.
In late July, Boeing announced that it anticipates the 737 MAX 10 to undergo FAA certification flight testing in 2023, with the first delivery expected in 2024.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.