Ryanair mainly uses Boeing 737s, especially the 737-800 and the newer high‑density 737 MAX variants, with a small side fleet of Airbus A320s through its Lauda subsidiary.

Quick Scoop: What planes do Ryanair use?

  • The core Ryanair plane is the Boeing 737-800 (also called 737 Next Generation), typically with 189 seats in a single‑class layout.
  • Ryanair is increasingly flying the Boeing 737-8200 “Gamechanger” (a special high‑capacity version of the 737 MAX 8) with about 197 seats and better fuel efficiency and lower noise.
  • The group also operates a limited number of Airbus A320s (around two dozen) via Lauda Europe, generally on similar short‑haul routes.
  • There is a single Boeing 737-700 mainly used for crew training and occasional charter or positioning flights.
  • Behind the scenes, Ryanair also runs a tiny fleet of business jets (Bombardier Challenger 3500 and one Learjet 45) for VIP, staff, and parts movements, not regular passenger services.

Main passenger aircraft (today)

Below is a simple overview of what planes Ryanair use for normal passengers as of early 2026.

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Aircraft type Typical seats Main use
Boeing 737-800 (737 NG) 189 seats Workhorse for most Ryanair European routes.
Boeing 737-8200 “Gamechanger” (MAX 8-200) 197 seats Newer, more efficient high‑capacity jet on busy routes.
Airbus A320 (Lauda Europe) About 180 seats Operates Ryanair‑group flights from certain bases, often ex‑Laudamotion markets.
Boeing 737-700 ~140–150 seats (rarely used in full service)Primarily training, occasional charter/positioning.

A quick “story” version

If you imagine Ryanair’s fleet as a cast of characters:

  • The Boeing 737-800 is the seasoned regular, doing most of the flying day in, day out.
  • The 737-8200 Gamechanger is the newer, more efficient cousin, squeezing in a few more passengers while burning less fuel and making less noise.
  • The Airbus A320s are the “guest stars” from Lauda’s past, still flying in Ryanair colours on specific routes.
  • The lone 737-700 is the trainer and utility player, more often in the simulator/training role than on your holiday flight.

Latest news & future orders

  • Ryanair has been steadily taking deliveries of 737-8200s and plans to keep shifting more of its flying to these more efficient jets.
  • The group also has up to 300 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft on order for delivery from around 2027 onward, aimed at further growth and partial replacement of older 737-800s.

In practice, if you book a Ryanair flight in 2026, you’ll almost certainly be on a Boeing 737-800 or a 737-8200, with A320s appearing mainly from specific Lauda-operated bases.

TL;DR: Ryanair uses mostly Boeing 737-800 and 737-8200 “Gamechanger” jets, plus a smaller Lauda Airbus A320 fleet, a single 737-700 for training, and a few business jets for internal logistics.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.