Ryanair's first Boeing 737 MAX jet was en route to Dublin from the US planemaker's base in Seattle today, flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed.
A 737 Max jet with the tail number EI-HEN and registered to Ryanair is due to land in Dublin this afternoon, the website showed.
The largest European customer of the MAX, with 210 firm orders of the 197-seat MAX200 model, Ryanair was initially due to take delivery of its first MAX two years ago before the jet was grounded for 20 months after two fatal crashes.
Since then, the Irish airline has announced repeated delays, cutting its planned deliveries in time for use in summer 2021 from 40 to 16 to possibly zero.
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary described the aircraft as a "gamechanger".
"These new Boeing 737 aircraft will help Ryanair lower costs, cut fuel consumption and lower noise and CO2 emissions as we invest heavily in new technology to deepen our environmental commitment as Europe's greenest, cleanest major airline," he said.
Mr O'Leary said the new aircraft offers 197 seats, compared to its 189-seat current 737 fleet.
"Our customers will enjoy more leg room, new Boeing "Sky Interiors" and lower fares, while reducing their environmental footprint by switching to these new aircraft," he said.
Mr O'Leary said that due to "regrettable" delays, they expect to take delivery of just 12 of these aircraft this summer, with six being delivered in Ryanair colours and six in Malta Air colours, which it also owns.
