Ryanair has ordered 70 Boeing 737s worth more than $4 billion and taken an option on a further 70.
The no-frills carrier said the deal will result in the creation of more than 2,500 jobs, mainly for pilots, cabin crew and engineering staff.
The aircraft are due for delivery between 2008 and 2012 and are in addition to 100 new 737s to be delivered by the end of this year.
Ryanair says it expects to see passenger carryings double from the 34 million anticipated in 2005-06 to more than 70 million when all the aircraft have been delivered, making it the largest airline in Europe by 2011-12.
The airline has struck an “improved pricing” deal with manufacturer Boeing on the aircraft plus winglet modifications to the entire fleet designed to give a two per cent cut in fuel consumption.
Chairman David Bonderman said the 737-800 had enabled the carrier to “significantly” reduce its operating costs “and allowed us to reduce air fares each year for the past five years”.
He added: “With the new order and new pricing in place Ryanair expects that unit operatng costs (excluding fuel) will continue to fall each year for the next five years. This will enable Ryanair to offer even lower fares and underpin our growth strategy as we plan to double traffic.”
The airline said it planned job creation at existing bases “and new bases all over Europe”.
Report by Phil Davies
