The Ryanair fleet
Ryanair continued its policy of fleet commonality to keep staff training and aircraft maintenance costs as low as possible, using Boeing 737 planes. Over the years, Ryanair replaced its fleet of old aircraft with new, more environmentally-friendly aircraft, reducing the average age of its fleet to 2.4 years, the youngest fleet of any major airline in Europe. The larger seat capacity of the new aircraft did not need more crew. The newer aircraft produced 50 per cent less emissions, 45 per cent less fuel burn and 45 per cent lower noise emissions per seat. Also, a winglet modification program on the fleet was providing better aircraft performance and a 2 per cent reduction in fleet fuel consumption, a saving which the company believed could be improved over the next year.