Boeing

Ryanair, Europe's largest and fastest-growing low-fare airline, took delivery of its first Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 over the weekend, The Boeing Company announced. The airplane is the first of 25 Next-Generation 737s ordered 12 months ago to expand Ryanair's European network.

Ryanair, with its head office based in Dublin, Ireland, currently operates a fleet of 21 Boeing 737-200s and flies nearly six million people per year on 33 routes covering Ireland, the U.K., France, Italy, Belgium, Norway and Sweden. This year, the airline launched six new routes from London (Stansted) to Frankfurt in Germany; Genoa, Turin and Ancona in Italy; and Biarritz and Dinard in France.

"These six new routes will not be the end of Ryanair's expansion this year. With the delivery of our new 737-800s, we will announce at least two more destinations from London this summer," said Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive.

"Boeing is proud to be a part of Ryanair's success and dynamic growth by offering the right airplane with the lowest operating cost and highest reliability in its class," said Chris Longridge, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group vice president - European Sales.

The 737-800 incorporates advanced technology in a stretched version of the classic 737-400. It shares the enhancements of the other members of the Next-Generation family including a new passenger cabin and flight deck. Also, wing and engine improvements increase performance while reducing noise and emissions.

The Next-Generation 737 family delivers increased value to airlines in the form of reliability, simplicity, and reduced operating and maintenance costs. It is the fastest-selling new jetliner in commercial aviation history, with 1,127 ordered worldwide.