Europe discount airline Ryanair has added 75 Boeing 737 Max jets to its pending 135-unit order.
The purchase is the largest for the model since they were grounded nearly two years ago.
The order came after the Federal Aviation Administration gave the airplane the green light to return to commercial service. Boeing is still waiting for certifications from other aviation regulators - which are expected to follow the administration's lead.
Ryanair, which already owns 440 older Boeing 737 jets, had previously placed an order of 135 additional aircraft before the grounding. The company has yet to take delivery of any orders.
Ryanair expected to take delivery of the first batch of jets within the first and second quarters of next year. It added that Boeing should make further deliveries through 2024. The company said the cost of the 210 jets was about $22 billion.
When the pandemic hit Ryanair placed 99% of its fleet in storage.
"As soon as the COVID-19 virus recedes, and it will in 2021 with the rollout of multiple effective vaccines, Ryanair [will] rapidly restore flights and schedules," the company's chief executive officer Michael O'Leary said in a statement.
O'Leary said the company planned to use its new planes to replace older models - most of which will remain grounded until travel demand recovers.
"We are gratified that Ryanair is once again placing its confidence in the Boeing 737 family and building its future fleet with this enlarged order," Boeing's chief executive officer Dave Calhoun said in a statement.
Since its planes were grounded following two crashes that killed 346 passengers and crew, Boeing received 42 orders only for its 737 Max. At the Paris Air Show last year, Boeing signed purchase agreements with several airlines but none resulted in orders.
Boeing saw dozens of orders canceled.
