Ryanair buys more Boeing 737 Max aircraft in $22bn deal

Ryanair B737 Max

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary and Ryanair leaders joined the Boeing team for a signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. Photo: Ryanair

Ryanair has signalled its confidence that airline flying will start to get back to normal in 2021 by buying another 75 new Boeing 737 Max-8200 aircraft.

That’s in addition to the 135 already on order, making a total of 210 with a book value of $22 billion.

The purchase is also a clear sign that Ryanair believes the troubles besetting the 737 Max are behind it. The US authority, the FAA, has already cleared the 737 Max for return to service. Ryanair clearly believes the European authority, EASA, will follow suit soon.

The 210 B737 Max aircraft will delivered over a four-year period between Spring 2021 and December 2024. Ryanair and Boeing have agreed revised delivery dates, and have also agreed compensation for the direct costs incurred by Ryanair over the past 18 months due to delivery delays.

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary said, “We are 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.

“We hope to take delivery of at least 50 of these aircraft in 2021, subject to Boeing recovering its manufacturing output to deliver them.”

Mr O’Leary continued, “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.

“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.

“We are working closely with Boeing and our senior pilot professionals to assist our regulator EASA to certify these aircraft in Europe, and to complete the training of our pilots and crews across our three new Boeing MAX simulators in Dublin and Stansted.”

Boeing Boeing 737 Max Ryanair