Boeing and Ryanair celebrate a milestone

Ryanair celebrates delivery of low-cost carrier's 400th Next-Generation 737-800 (PRNewsFoto/Boeing)

Ryanair currently operates the world’s largest fleet of Next-Generation 737-800s and has just taken delivery of its milestone 400^th addition, courtesy of Boeing.

Ryanair celebrates delivery of low-cost carrier’s 400th Next-Generation 737-800 (PRNewsFoto/Boeing)

“The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with its industry leading technical reliability and seating capacity, has been the foundation upon which our successful and safe growth has been built, since we took our first delivery in March 1999,” said Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Michael Hickey. “We are delighted to be now taking delivery of our 400^th 737-800, which includes the new Boeing Sky Interior and slim line seats, offering extra leg room and an enhanced customer experience, as part of our ‘Always Getting Programme’.”

The Irish carrier pioneered the low-cost model in Europe more than 30 years ago, with the Next-Generation 737-800 providing the optimal platform for its continued growth. Ryanair is the largest Boeing operator in Europe with more than 1,800 daily flights carrying 106 million passengers annually to more than 30 countries.

“A key factor in Ryanair’s continued success is the outstanding economics of the Next-Generation 737-800,” said Monty Oliver, vice president, European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Ryanair continuing to invest

The Dublin based carrier has more than 130 unfilled orders for Next-Generation 737-800s and is also the launch customer for the 737 MAX 200 – the newest member of the 737 MAX family – of which it has ordered 100. The new ‘planes will provide airlines with up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency per seat than current single-aisle aeroplanes.