As the Boeing 737 MAX prepares to return to passenger revenue service, Ryanair boosted confidence in the program with an order for an additional 75 of the game-changing airplanes. The new order increases the carrier’s firm order book to 210 airplanes.
On Thursday (December 3, 2020), Boeing announced that Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline has placed an order for an additional 75 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, increasing their firm order book to 210 airplanes. Ryanair once again selected the 737 8-200, a higher capacity version of the 737-8 due to the airplane’s additional seat capacity, improved fuel efficiency and outstanding environmental performance. Ryanair Group’s CEO, Michael O’Leary and Ryanair leaders joined the Boeing team in Washington D.C. for the signing ceremony, where Mr. O’Leary said,
“Ryanair's board and people are confident that our customers will love these new aircraft. Passengers will enjoy the new interiors, more generous leg room, lower fuel consumption and quieter noise performance. And, most of all, our customers will love the lower fares, which these aircraft will enable Ryanair to offer starting in 2021 and for the next decade, as Ryanair leads the recovery of Europe's aviation and tourism industries. As soon as the COVID-19 virus recedes – and it likely will in 2021 with the rollout of multiple effective vaccines – Ryanair and our partner airports across Europe will – with these environmentally efficient aircraft – rapidly restore flights and schedules, recover lost traffic and help the nations of Europe recover their tourism industries, and get young people back to work across the cities, beaches and ski resorts of the European Union.”
Also commenting on the new airplane order, The Boeing Company’s President and CEO, Dave Calhoun added,
“Ryanair will continue to play a leading role in our industry when Europe recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and air traffic returns to growth across the continent. We are gratified that Ryanair is once again placing its confidence in the Boeing 737 family and building their future fleet with this enlarged firm order. Boeing remains focused on safely returning the full 737 fleet to service and on delivering the backlog of airplanes to Ryanair and our other customers. We firmly believe in this airplane, and we will continue the work to re-earn the trust of all of our customers.”
Ryanair will be the launch customer for the higher capacity 737-8 variant, having placed their first order for 100 airplanes and 100 options in 2014. This order was followed by a firm order for an additional 10 airplanes in 2017 and 25 more in 2018. The 737 8-200 will allow Ryanair to configure the aircraft with 197 seats, increasing revenue potential and reducing fuel burn by 16 percent versus previous generation aircraft.
Source: Boeing