If all 200 aircraft are acquired, this deal will be worth over $22 billion at current list prices. Ryanair becomes the lead customer for this new aircraft which in its configuration will feature 197 seats (eight more than Ryanair’s existing 737-800s) and new CFM LEAP-1B engines, which combined with aerodynamic improvements will reduce fuel consumption by up to 18% in Ryanair’s configuration and reduce operational noise emissions by 40 percent. These savings will be passed on via lower fares to Ryanair’s customers, which the company now expects to grow from 82 million in 2014 to over 150 million customers a year by the time all the planes are delivered in 2024.
This new agreement was signed by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary (pictured), and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President & CEO Ray Conner, in New York on September 8. Following approval by Ryanair’s shareholders at an EGM in late November, this order will become Boeing’s largest ever aircraft order from a European airline. It will sustain thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs in Boeing and its supplier companies and represents the largest ever capital investment by an Irish company in US manufacturing and jobs.
Ryanair enters into this new aircraft agreement, the day before it takes delivery of the first of 180 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The current 180 aircraft order will see Ryanair’s fleet grow from 304 to 420 (allowing for lease returns. Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said: “As many of Europe’s flag carriers cut capacity on short haul routes, Ryanair looks forward to using these new Boeing 737 MAX 200 aircraft to grow at many more of Europe’s primary airports.”
