SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of October 2005
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Ryanair Exercises 9 Further Boeing 737-800 Options
- Increases Fleet including Firm Options to 234
Ryanair Holdings plc today (Tuesday, 4th October 2005) held an Investor Day in
London. At this meeting the airline updated investors on current trading and
also confirmed the exercise of 9 further Boeing 737-800 options for delivery in
2007 along with the planned sale (in 2007) of 5 Boeing 737-800's purchased in
1999.
Speaking in London, Michael O'Leary, Chief Executive Officer said:
"Current trading continues to be in line with expectations. Higher fuel
prices over the summer months have been partly offset by a combination
of other cost reductions and slightly more benign yield environment.
Passenger volumes and load factors have been strong over the summer and
in August we achieved a significant milestone by carrying more
passengers on our short haul European network than British Airways (now
just the worlds 2nd favourite airline) did on their entire worldwide
network.
"Looking forward to the winter we remain cautious. We expect yields to
benefit from the multiple fuel surcharges imposed by the high fare
carriers across Europe. However, we anticipate that the fare
differential between Ryanair and the flag carriers will be partially
eroded as the fuel surchargers are forced to lower their underlying
fares to compete with Ryanair's lower prices. We therefore remain
cautious but comfortable with our previous guidance for the remainder of
this fiscal year as we anticipate strong load factors and passenger
volumes but as expected, at slightly lower yields.
"The recent announcement of the cessation of the Boeing strike will in
turn enable our aircraft deliveries to be "back on track" by the end of
December 2005. We anticipate there will be no material adverse impact on
the company's financial performance or passengers carried arising from
the strike.
"I am also pleased to announce that we have exercised options to
purchase 9 Boeing 737-800's with a value of over $500m dollars for
delivery in late 2007, (3 in September, 2 in October and 4 in November).
We also plan in late 2007 to sell on the first 5 of our older Boeing
737-800's, which were delivered in 1999. This is a continuation of
Ryanair's strategy of operating the youngest fleet in Europe, with the
lowest unit operating costs and best technical reliability, thereby
ensuring that Ryanair remains the number 1 on-time major airline in
Europe. These 4 incremental option aircraft will in turn enable Ryanair
to develop even more new routes while we continue to lead the low fare
revolution across Europe".
The company currently operates a fleet of 83 Boeing 737-800's and 9 Boeings
737-200's. The exercise of these 9 options and the planned sale during late 2007
of the 5 aircraft acquired in 1999, combined with the existing firm Boeing
commitments will in turn lead to Ryanair's fleet increasing by 151 aircraft to
234 aircraft by 2012. In addition the company has options over a further 179
aircraft for delivery between 2008 and 2014.
Summary of Firm Aircraft Commitments & Options
Firm Commitments ( All Boeing 737-800's)
Current Fleet 83
Firm Deliveries 147
Options Exercised 9
Sale in 2007 (5)
Total Fleet by 2012 234
Options
Existing Options 188
Options Exercised (9)
Total Options Available 2008-2014 179
ENDS. Tuesday, 4th October 2005
For further information Howard Millar Pauline McAlester
please contact: Ryanair Holdings Plc Murray Consultants
www.ryanair.com Tel: 353-1-8121212Tel: 353-1-4980300
Certain of the information included in this release is forward looking and is
subject to important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially. It is not reasonably possible to itemise all of the many
factors and specific events that could affect the outlook and results of an
airline operating in the European economy. Among the factors that are subject to
change and could significantly impact Ryanair's expected results are the airline
pricing environment, fuel costs, competition from new and existing carriers,
market prices for the replacement aircraft, costs associated with environmental,
safety and security measures, actions of the Irish, U.K., European Union ("EU")
and other governments and their respective regulatory agencies, fluctuations in
currency exchange rates and interest rates, airport access and charges, labour
relations, the economic environment of the airline industry, the general
economic environment in Ireland, the UK and Continental Europe, the general
willingness of passengers to travel and other economics, social and political
factors.
Ryanair is Europe's largest low fares airline with 15 bases and 266 low fare
routes across 21 countries. By the end of March 2006 Ryanair will operate an
entire fleet of 107 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft with firm orders for a further
127 new aircraft (net of planned disposals), which will be delivered over the
next 7 years. Ryanair currently employs a team of 2,900 people and expects to
carry in excess of 35 million scheduled passengers in the coming financial year.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 04 October 2005
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director