Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has struck a multibillion-dollar deal to buy up to 300 Boeing aircraft, signalling a big expansion of its fleet in the latest sign of the travel industry’s revival.
The agreement for the 737 Max-10 aircraft, including 150 options, is valued at more than $40bn at current list prices, although the airline will have received substantial discounts.
It comes after discussions collapsed more than 18 months ago over a disagreement on price. The aircraft will be delivered between 2027 and 2033.
The deal will allow Ryanair to create more than 10,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers, and will facilitate traffic growth of 80 per cent, rising from 168mn passengers at the end of March this year to 300mn by March 2034.