Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline, exercised options for another 27 Next-Generation 737-800s airplanes. The order is valued at $1.9 billion at list prices. These orders were previously accounted for on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site, assigned to an unidentified customer.

This option exercise brings Ryanair's total order book for 737-800s to 308, 137 of which have been delivered, leaving 171 to be delivered.

By operating one of the youngest and most efficient airplanes in the single-aisle market segment, Ryanair is significantly reducing emissions.

All 27 737-800s will be equipped with performance-enhancing blended winglets, which improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by up to five percent. "The lowest costs and reliability of these Boeing 737-800s will benefit millions of additional passengers in the coming five years as we extend our route network and our guaranteed lowest fares," said Howard Millar, chief financial officer and deputy chief executive officer for Ryanair.

"The 737-800 continues to demonstrate its exceptional suitability for the low-fare business model," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales, Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It consistently generates more revenue and more profit through industry-leading reliability and higher utilization. Boeing values Ryanair's continued endorsement of the Next-Generation 737."

The 737-800 is the most popular member of the Next-Generation 737 family. Ryanair today operates 137 Boeing 737-800s. It transported more than 42 million passengers in 2006.

As of April 30, Boeing had received orders for more than 3,800 Next-Generation 737s, and has unfilled orders exceeding 1,500 airplanes, worth over $100 billion at current list prices.