DUBLIN – There’s finally some good news for Boeing: European discount airline Ryanair announced Tuesday that it will buy 175 of the company’s popular 737 jets, the largest order ever placed by a European carrier.

Chicago-based Boeing Co. has struggled ever since its new 787 Dreamliner was grounded by regulators in January following problems with its electrical system. It also was dealt a major blow Monday in the race to win the single-aisle plane market when Indonesia’s Lion Air signed a deal with rival Airbus for 234 A320s.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the deal will allow his airline to expand in markets such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and Scandinavia. Neither side disclosed the purchase price for the 737-800s, but O’Leary said it did negotiate a bulk discount off the total list price of $15.6 billion. Ryanair received a 53 percent discount on a prior 737 order. This time, O’Leary said he was paying “slightly higher” prices.