Ryanair, the European budget airline that’s become Europe’s largest airline group by fleet totals, is planning to get even bigger with its order this week for 300 Boeing 737 Max 10 airliners, the largest version of the 737. It’s the airline’s biggest order ever.
The airline, whose entire fleet of 560 planes is all 737, plans to use 150 of the new planes to retire older and smaller 737s, and 150 for expansion. The order is written for 150 with options for the other 50, but CEO Michael O’Leary points out that “Historically, we have never failed to take our options.” The new planes are for delivery between 2027 and 2033.
Ryanair’s existing fleet, which still has more planes on order between now and the new contract, is all -8 and -9 models, but has clearly decided that the larger -10 model will be its future, with more seats to sell.
