Ryanair has exercised options for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 8s in a move valued at over US$3 billion at list price, bringing its total firm orders for the aircraft type to 135.
The first of its MAX 8 aircraft will be delivered in the first half of next year and increases the low-fare giant’s total orders to more than 650 B737s since first partnering with the aircraft manufacturer in 1994. Ryanair says it will allow it to grow its traffic to 200 million customers per year by 2024.
The carrier currently operates an all-Boeing fleet with an average age of six and a half years and says the new aircraft will reduce fuel consumption by up to 16%, reduce noise emissions by 40%, and offer 4% more seats per flight (197 compared to 189 on the B737-800NG). This will enable it to lower fares even further, it added.
Neil Sorahan, chief financial officer, said the airline still has a further 75 options for B737s remaining.
Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ senior vice-president, global sales and marketing, added that the B737 MAX 8 “is undoubtedly the best possible airplane for the low-cost market and today’s increased order with Europe’s leading low-cost airline is testament to that.”
The latest order was previously listed as unidentified on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website. Ryanair launched the CFM International LEAP-1B-engined MAX 8 in late 2014 with an order for 100 aircraft, followed by an additional order for 10 more at last year’s Paris Air Show.
The Dublin-based airline is already the world’s largest B737-800 customer. Last month it took delivery of its 500th B737-800NG.
