YES, AND IT'S OFFICIAL! In an annual general meeting today, Phillip Meeson, on behalf of Jet2.com, announces entry into a direct agreement with Boeing for:
.........
27 BRAND NEW 737-800NG's
The list price of the massive order stacks up to a staggering $2.6 billion (about £1.7bn), though Jet2 have negotiated 'significant discounts' from the list price. The new aircraft will all feature the new
Boeing Sky Interior, and are expected to be delivered between September 2016, and April 2018.
This eradicates any rumours of a looming Airbus order that many have heard rumoured:
Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales Boeing Commercial Airplanes said, “We are very proud that Jet2.com has again selected Boeing to meet its continuing fleet requirements.’’
This is a massive move for the airline, having never bought into the new aircraft market before. The aircraft are to serve 'fleet replacements', which was of course inevitable, given that some of the 737-300's are nearing 30 year old.
The current G-CEL* fleet consists of 19 aircraft with seating capacity of 148. Simple Calculations would show that;
OLD 19 aircraft x 148Y seats =
2812 seats
NEW 27 aircraft x 189Y seats =
5103 seats
Which equals an increase of
+2291 seats.
So the new aircraft would serve as not only fleet replacement, but fleet renewal, and additional capacity. Some of the younger G-CEL*, I would expect to join G-CELW as 737-300SF, or freight only, in order to keep the royal mail contract going. The aircraft are said to be funded by 'internal resources and debt'.