Ryanair last Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with COMAC in Paris on the development of the COMAC C919 aircraft for Ryanair, which would be designed to carry up to 200 passengers and should be available from 2018 onwards.

Ryanair said it will share its experience and expertise to assist Chinese company COMAC in developing the new C919 commercial aircraft, which “would enable Ryanair to lower costs and lower fares for its passengers.”

Speaking in Paris, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said: “We are pleased that there is now a real alternative to Boeing and Airbus, and we are seriously interested in the development of a 200 seat variant of the C919 aircraft.”

Ryanair will have a fleet of over 300 Boeing aircraft by 2013, and O’Leary said discussions will continue with both Boeing and now COMAC for a replacement aircraft order of at least 200 aircraft.

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