Ryanair secures world’s largest Boeing 737-800 fleet

Ryanair has cemented its position as the global leader in Boeing 737-800 operations, with nearly 400 aircraft active, inactive, or under wet lease. Headquartered in Dublin, the low-cost carrier relies on the single narrowbody type to drive scale, efficiency, and cost control.

Introduced to Ryanair’s fleet in 1999, the 737-800 has become the backbone of its European network. According to industry source Simple Flying, the aircraft supports high-frequency routes on dense city pairs such as London to Dublin, Dublin to Manchester, and Rome to Palermo, regularly exceeding 100 roundtrip flights per month. It also covers longer intra-European sectors, including northern Europe to the Canary Islands, with a maximum range exceeding 2,500 miles.

A standardised fleet allows Ryanair to streamline pilot training, maintenance, and scheduling, while maintaining high utilisation rates across hundreds of routes. The airline is gradually transitioning toward Boeing 737 MAX variants, but the 737-800 continues to handle the majority of high-frequency and mid-range European services.

London Stansted serves as the airline’s largest operational base, hosting the highest aircraft count and acting as a key anchor for point-to-point operations across Western, Central, and Southern Europe. Ryanair treats its aircraft as mobile assets, adjusting deployment in response to airport fees, government taxes, and demand.

Ryanair’s cost-driven model underpins the 737-800’s continued dominance. High seating density, single-class cabins, and rapid turnaround times keep unit costs among the lowest in Europe. Ancillary revenues, including baggage fees, seat selection, and priority boarding, support profitability while maintaining highly competitive base fares.

The airline’s strategic deployment and fleet focus have allowed it to surpass legacy carriers and other low-cost operators, reinforcing its position as Europe’s largest low-cost airline.

Explore the full story on Ryanair’s fleet strategy and market dominance.

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