Ryanair has bought 27 more Boeing 737-800s valued at $1.9 billion. This brings Ryanair's total firm orders for B737-800s to 308 and total fleet size (including planned disposals) to 262 by 2012.
The new aircraft will be fitted with Boeing blended winglets, which will further reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions, the airline said. Winglets are wing tip extensions which reduce drag and provide some extra lift.
Ryanair has also announced that it is to introduce eight new routes from Shannon Airport to European destinations starting in November. It will bring the airline's total number of destinations from Shannon to 31.
Shannon Airport's Martin Moroney said Ryanair now carried more than half of all the passengers travelling through Shannon.
The new routes are to Birmingham, Dublin, Fuertaventura in the Canary Islands, Kaunas in Lithuania, Luton, Leeds, Riga and Tenerife. The expansion includes Ryanair's first domestic route from Shannon to Dublin. The airline will also increase frequency on its Edinburgh and Manchester routes.
Ryanair shares closed up 11 cent at €5.32 in Dublin.
