TUI fly Netherlands will be the first airline in the TUI Group to operate the Boeing 737 MAX 1012. Amsterdam becomes the launch base for the type, which Boeing designates the 737-10. The Dutch operation will move from six 737-8s to seven larger 737-10s, with around 15 per cent more seats per aircraft23. In September, TUI said it expected the type to enter service in the second quarter of 2027, subject to certification24.

The first aircraft for TUI was already in production at Boeing in Seattle in August, according to Peter Glade, chief commercial officer of TUI Airline35. The first MAX 10 registered in the Netherlands will be named Madeira, following the airline's habit of naming aircraft after holiday destinations6.

How does the MAX 10 compare with the MAX 8?

At 43.8 metres, the MAX 10 is the longest member of the 737 MAX family; the MAX 8 is 39.5 metres long7. Boeing quotes 185 to 210 seats in a typical two-class layout and up to 230 in a maximum-density cabin, against a maximum of 210 for the MAX 87. TUI's 737-8s are configured with 189 seats8. Range is shorter: Boeing gives the MAX 10 up to 3,100 nautical miles (5,740 km), against 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km) for the MAX 87.

The fleet renewal supports a wider network strategy of more direct services and frequencies to popular leisure destinations, with a particular focus on the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao3. Capacity is moving away from smaller markets that were served through triangular routings3. From Amsterdam, TUI will also add a twice-weekly Boeing 787 service to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in summer 2027, combined with Zanzibar2.

Where does certification stand?

In August, TUI was still aiming to introduce the MAX 10 in the first quarter of 202739. Its summer 2027 programme, published on 24 September, gives the second quarter of 2027 for entry into service2. The US Federal Aviation Administration certified the MAX 10 on 20 October 2026, and Boeing expects to begin deliveries in the coming months1011. More than 30 customers have ordered 1,555 aircraft of the type, according to Boeing11. We covered the approval in detail in our report on the FAA certification of the 737 MAX 10.

European operators also need EASA validation, which had not been granted as of late October12. According to the Dutch travel trade site Reisbizz, Glade is confident that TUI will receive the first aircraft and the six that follow on time6.

What changes for 737 pilots?

In the FAA's draft Flight Standardization Board report for the 737, revision 22, the 737-10 sits under the same B-737 pilot type rating as the rest of the 737 MAX family13. The FSB evaluated the 737-10 against the 737-8 in May and June 2026. The differences tables, proposed by Boeing and validated by the FSB in June 2026, set training and checking for the move from the 737-8 at Level A13. Level A covers differences that can be learned through self-instruction, such as operating manual revisions or differences handouts14. For the mid exit doors, the table also refers to the US training requirements for emergency exits13.

The listed differences include a semi-levered main landing gear and a two-position tailskid, with an added exterior check of the landing gear strut pressure during the preflight inspection13. The mid exit doors bring a new non-normal checklist and an addition to the takeoff configuration warning. Flap placard and flap load relief speeds are revised and weights are higher13. The enhanced angle-of-attack system adds switches to inhibit the stick shaker and overspeed warning, as well as AOA FAIL alerts on the primary flight display13. How a conversion to a new type is structured is explained in our guide to how a type rating works, and Avolon's order is covered in our report on the Irish lessor's 140-aircraft order.

How does TUI fly Netherlands hire 737 pilots?

According to TUI's recruitment pages, TUI fly Netherlands also recruits first officers for the Boeing 737 who do not yet hold a type rating. In that case the airline pays for the rating, and new pilots sign a four-year bond: anyone who leaves within those four years repays the training costs on a pro rata basis15. New first officers start on a temporary two-year full-time contract, and TUI says the four-year bond shows its intention to make that contract permanent15.

The home base is Schiphol, and pilots on standby must be able to reach the airport within 60 minutes15. TUI asks for an EASA licence, an EU passport and a work permit for the Netherlands or Belgium, as well as English at ICAO level 5 or higher; Dutch is an advantage15. Type rating theory takes place in the country of the pilot's base, while simulator training can be held at centres across Europe or in the UK16. TUI only accepts applications through its careers website, and if a role is not listed there, it is not recruiting for it15. More about the airline can be found on our TUI fly Netherlands page and the wider TUI Airline profile, and pay is covered in our guide to TUI fly Netherlands pilot salaries.