Ryanair to expand by 30% with bumper Boeing order

Ryanair is planning to increase its aircraft fleet by a third to 400 planes after placing an order with Boeing for 175 planes worth $15.6bn (£10.3bn). 

The move is a boost for the US planemaker after rival Airbus received a record $24bn order from an Indonesian airline.
Ryanair hopes to increase its passenger numbers to 100 million a year.

Ryanair, which has has always favoured Boeing aircraft and remains one of the few all-Boeing carriers, said it had received a discount on the price, but did not reveal how deep a discount. 

The order is for the current generation 737s, whose 737-800 model list price is $89.1m, but large orders typically involve a discount, which could cut the price paid to half that. 

The deal softens the missed opportunity from Indonesia's Lion Air, as that company had previously given Boeing its own record order.