Ryanair has agreed to buy a further 75 new Boeing 737 MAX-8200 aircraft, bringing the total number of the jets that it has ordered to 210.
The total value of the deal, including the 135 that it had previously ordered, is $22 billion.
Ryanair expects to take the first deliveries of the aircraft from early 2021.
The airline will receive all 210 of the 737 MAXs over a four-year period between spring of next year and December 2024.
Ryanair said it will use the new planes to grow its services into new EU countries and markets.
It also said it has agreed compensation for the direct costs incurred by Ryanair over the past 18 months due to the delay in the delivery of the first 135 aircraft in the order, after the jets were grounded over safety concerns.
Some of this compensation has been factored into a “modest” reduction in the pricing of the new aircraft order, Ryanair added.
In a statement, Ryanair’s group chief executive Michael O’Leary said the airline is pleased and proud to place this enlarged order with Boeing, who have successfully completed the return to service of the Boeing MAX aircraft.
“The Boeing MAX is a fabulous aircraft with more seats, more leg room, lower fares, lower fuel consumption, and it sets incredible environmental standards, including 40% less noise and lower CO2 emissions,” Michael O’Leary said.
“We hope to take delivery of at least 50 of these aircraft in 2021, subject to Boeing recovering its manufacturing output to deliver them,” he said.
“For as long as the Covid-19 pandemic depresses air travel, we will use these new aircraft to replace some of our older Boeing NG fleet, which will remain grounded until pre-Covid demand returns,” the Ryanair boss said.
“But as soon as the Covid-19 virus recedes – and it 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 industry, and get young people back to work across the cities, beaches, and ski resorts of the EU,” he added.
The announcement came after the 737 MAX staged its first post-grounding flight with media on board yesterday, as carriers seek to demonstrate to passengers that the redesigned jet is safe after a 20-month safety ban.
Boeing’s best-selling jet was grounded in March 2019 after two crashes in five months killed a combined 346 people.
Original article written by Will Goodbody and can be viewed on https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/1203/1182161-ryanair-orders-new-boeing-planes/
