Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has placed an order for 300 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft worth $40 billion, of which 150 are firm orders. According to Simple Flying, negotiations for the purchase of the aircraft began before the COVID-19 pandemic but stopped in September 2021 due to price disagreements.
In March, the airline group’s chairman, Michael O’Leary, said that Ryanair had agreed to pay more for the aircraft. The total number of 737 MAXs ordered by the low-cost airline has increased to 360 units.
Currently, Ryanair’s fleet includes Boeing 737 MAX 8 with 197 seats. The MAX 10 can accommodate 228 passengers, which is 21% more than the 737-800s. Lower fuel consumption and more seats will provide Ryanair with an advantage over its competitors in the EU for many years, said Michael O’Leary.
“Additional seats, lower fuel consumption and more attractive aircraft prices will widen the cost gap between Ryanair and its EU competitors for many years to come,” said Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.
Ryanair plans to receive new aircraft in 2027-2033. About half of them will replace older 737-800s, while the rest will be used to expand the fleet.
It is worth noting that Ryanair carried 168 million passengers last fiscal year, setting a new record. The company plans to increase this figure by 80% to 300 million passengers by 2034.
