European low-cost carrier Ryanair has placed an order for up to 300 Boeing [NYSE: BA] aircraft.
Tuesday the air carrier announced it had selected the 737 Max 10, the largest of the 737 variants.
According to Boeing, the purchase is the biggest in the history of the airline and includes a firm order for 150 737-10s with an option for 150 more.
“Ryanair is pleased to sign this record aircraft order for up to 300 Max 10s with our aircraft partner Boeing,” said Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s Group CEO. “These new, fuel efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21 percent more seats, burn 20 percent less fuel and are 50 percent quieter than our B737-NGs. We expect half of this order will replace older NGs while the remaining 150 aircraft will facilitate controlled, sustainable growth to just over 300 million guests per annum by 2034.”
Said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun: “The Boeing-Ryanair partnership is one of the most productive in commercial aviation history, enabling both companies to succeed and expand affordable travel to hundreds of millions of people. Nearly a quarter century after our companies signed our first direct airplane purchase, this landmark deal will further strengthen our partnership. We are committed to delivering for Ryanair and helping the airline group achieve its goals.”
This new order will be posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website once it is finalized.
At present, Ryanair includes a growing fleet of 197-seat 737-8-200 airplanes. The larger 737-10 variant has 228 seats and, according to Boeing, offers the best unit economics of any single-aisle airplane.
