Ryanair is in final negotiations with Airbus Industrie and Boeing for up to 50 narrowbodied aircraft, and expects to finalise an order by the end of March.
The Irish low fare airline, which operates its main hub from London Stansted, revealed last October that it was examining various options to renew its fleet.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary says that the airline is focusing on the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737-800, and is negotiating for a 50-aircraft deal consisting of 25 firm orders and 25 options.
"We are negotiating directly with both manufacturers, and are not looking to take aircraft from operating lease companies," says O'Leary, who expects first deliveries to take place within two years.
Despite the airline's existing close association with the Boeing 737 - it flies 20 737-200s - O'Leary says that neither manufacturer is favoured and that the final decision will be based on the "competitiveness" of their respective offers.
He says that the initial batch of new aircraft will be required for growth, and that he will not look to the replacement of the carrier's relatively young 737-200s until 2002-2005.
Source: Flight International
