WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA]
and Ryanair announced today that Europe's largest airline is placing a firm
order for 75 additional 737 MAX airplanes, increasing its order
book to 210 jets. Ryanair again selected the 737 8-200, a
higher-capacity version of the 737-8, citing the airplane's
additional seats and improved fuel efficiency and environmental
performance.
"Ryanair's board and people are confident that our customers
will love these new aircraft. Passengers will enjoy the new
interiors, more generous leg room, lower fuel consumption and
quieter noise performance. And, most of all, our customers will
love the lower fares, which these aircraft will enable Ryanair to
offer starting in 2021 and for the next decade, as Ryanair leads
the recovery of Europe's aviation
and tourism industries," said Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary.
O'Leary and Ryanair leaders joined the Boeing team for a signing
ceremony in Washington, D.C. Both
companies acknowledged COVID-19's impacts on air traffic in the
near-term, but expressed confidence in the resilience and strength
of the passenger demand over the long term.
"As soon as the COVID-19 virus recedes – and it likely 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 industries, and get young people back to work across the
cities, beaches and ski resorts of the European Union," O'Leary
said.
Ryanair is the launch customer for the high-capacity 737-8
variant, having placed its first order for 100 airplanes and 100
options in late 2014, followed by firm orders of 10 airplanes in
2017 and 25 in 2018. The 737 8-200 will enable Ryanair to configure
its aircraft with 197 seats, increasing revenue potential, and
reduce fuel consumption by 16 percent compared to the airline's
previous airplanes.
"Ryanair will continue to play a leading role in our industry
when Europe recovers from the
COVID-19 pandemic and air traffic returns to growth across the
continent. We are gratified that Ryanair is once again placing its
confidence in the Boeing 737 family and building their future fleet
with this enlarged firm order," said Dave
Calhoun, president and CEO of The Boeing Company.
"Boeing remains focused on safely returning the full 737 fleet
to service and on delivering the backlog of airplanes to Ryanair
and our other customers. We firmly believe in this airplane, and we
will continue the work to re-earn the trust of all of our
customers," Calhoun said.
Contact:
Keelan Morris
Boeing Communications (London)
+ 44(0)208 235 5664
keelan.j.morris@boeing.com
Jessica Kowal
Boeing Communications (Seattle)
+1 206-660-6849
jessica.m.kowal@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing