The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted today the validation of the Type Certificate of the Boeing 737 MAX 8200, which will allow Ryanair to receive and commercially operate the aircraft in its area of interest: the European territory.
The aircraft, initially configured by Ryanair to carry 197 passengers, may have a maximum of 207 (202 + 5 cabin crew), only limited by the ventilation rate per passenger of the environmental control system.
Based on the 737-8, the 8200 retains the same measurements but adds a MED (Mid-Cabin Emergency Door), allowing it to add 13 additional seats to the declared maximum for the -8, approaching the capacity of the -9, which it is 220 seats at maximum density.
EASA TCDS IM A 120 - rev 22To transport more than 200 passengers, Ryanair should have a fifth cabin crew member, so it is speculated that 197 is the magic number that achieves the balance between capacity and profitability for the version.
As of EASA approval, Ryanair can commercially operate the variant, although the reality of current demand does not indicate that it the company is in a rush to receive them.