After months of speculation, Ryanair announced a massive acquisition deal with Boeing for 150 737 MAX 10 jets, with options for another 150 aircraft.
The European low-cost carrier is one of the biggest customers of the 737 and has introduced the high-density 737-8-200 variant with 197 seats, which will be delivered by 2025.
With the 737-10, Ryanair intends to offer flights with aircraft configured with 228 seats and that will replace 737 NG models currently in service.
“Ryanair is pleased to sign this record aircraft order for up to 300 MAX 10s with our aircraft partner Boeing. These new, fuel efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21% more seats, burn 20% less fuel and are 50% quieter than our B737 -NGs,” said Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s Group CEO.
The 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the single-aisle jet ever built, but has yet to be certified. Boeing expects to put the aircraft into service in early 2024 if it gets FAA approval.
Boeing and Ryanair had been negotiating the order for the 737-10 for several months, but the discussions got stuck on the price asked by the US company, considered high by the Irish company.
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The deal is valued at $40 billion and still needs to be finalized before it becomes part of Boeing’s backlog.
The 737-10 will be delivered between 2027 and 2033 and should allow Ryanair to reach a level of 300 million passengers transported per year in 2034 – currently, the company transports 168 million people annually.
