Boeing and Ryanair, Europe’s largest and most profitable low-fare airline, announced this week an order for 32 Next-Generation B737-800s at a cost of $2.25 billion (R17.5bn). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2008. To date, Ryanair has ordered 281 B737-800s. Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, said his company expected to be able to serve over 80 million passengers by 2012.