Customers could elect to pay less to sit on stools with seatbelts around their waists.
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has reportedly held talks with US plane manufacturer Boeing about designing an aircraft with standing room.
Stephen McNamara, Ryanair spokesman, told the MailOnline: "The seating would completely adhere to safety procedures.
"It's really early days but we're looking at a 20% to 30% increase in passengers on commuter routes."
Chinese airline Spring has also put forward similar plans, estimating it could fit in up to 50% more passengers.
In recent months Ryanair has taken no-frills to new levels by planning to introduce a charge to use the toilets onboard. O'Leary intends for the scheme to be in place within two years.
Additionally, Ryanair plans to make passengers carry all of their own luggage on to its planes and axe 90% of its baggage handlers.
Meanwhile, from October, Ryanair is abolishing check-in facilities and will instead demand that all passengers check in online at a cost of £5.
Comments
MM - 06/07/2009
This is just getting ridiculous now.
Why is the headline 'Passengers to stand on Ryanair flights' when they're not standing but sitting on stools. Yeah let's just make things up...
Nicola... PR Manager for Ryanair pykies!
Simple answer - just don't fly with such a 'chavy' airline that has such disregard for its passengers
I recently did a talk to c.170 business people. I asked for a show of hands on whether Ryanair's pricing tactics were good or bad. The huge consensus was that, whilst they are likely to make sense in the short term, they will cost more in bad will created. You would not believe the level of venom and disgust for this company. People booed. I also asked how many flew with Ryanair. Most did \(80%?). I asked how many would pay a reasonable amount extra to fly with a company that treated them nicely and the whole room agreed. So maybe we will see charges for smiles and higher levels of courtesy and interest in passengers as Ryanair miss the point again.
Ryanair is now, in my mind, exploiting the strength of its' route network and size/cost advantages. At some stage the scales will tip against them. They seem to be intent on building bad will among their customer base. I for one will now factor in "how can I avoid flying ryanair whilst still paying a modest price" into my holiday planning. Seems that Mr O'Leary has let his spreadsheet get the better of his common sense.
I can´t believe it, though I am thinking this could possible be another of their noisy actions to make everybody talk about them. Here in Spain when Queen Sofia appeared on an ad was huge, and though they had to get rid of the ad, it was already late, as literally everybody were talking about it
Lee H - 07/07/2009
I love it. The man is a twat and a genius!
I've checked the calendar and it's not April Fool's Day. Is O'leary over medicating or something? Surely someone in his senior managemnet team must have the balls to tell him he has already gone too far. Stellios must be wetting himself with glee!
Victor - 07/07/2009
Please just boycott this outfit. You can't treat your customers with this contempt. People will vote with their feet - eventually. Its just like politics except we don't have to wait 5 years until we get a chance to have our say. Goodbye Ryanair
A DIAZ - 07/07/2009
I hear that they will also be offering seats on the wings. Oxygen masks will be fitted on the wings and you have to pay £5 for a pair of goggles. Only problem is that you have to have the same amount of passengers on each wing or the plane becomes unstable.
Can I have my fees now Ryanair PR?
Completely agree with Jim on this one. People only fly with Ryanair because they operate the specific route they need to fly - in reality it usually doesn't have much to do with price competitiveness
Surely if Ryanair are in talks with Boeing to specifically design a plane with standing room, they'll never be able to recoup the additional cost of the development and small prodcution run of the aircraft. Presumably it will have to be a high roofline too? Most people over 6 feet tall can't stand up straight on a standard Boeing or Airbus aircraft anyway. And you won't be able to stand where you like as you'll have to be where the safety belts \(not seat belts anymore) are located. This whole plan is just not going to be cost effective - new aircraft or totally re-engineering existing ones will cost millions.
It's another Ryanair ruse to get people talking about them, and you know what? It's worked!
Presumably more leg room sitting on a stool? They're merely copying the rail industry, which dispensed with the charming practice of one passenger, one seat and porters to carry your bags years ago.
O'Leary doesn't go far enough... You can get 50% more passengers on the inside by having them lie down horizontally and stacking them three high and six wide. You would get nine in \(3x3) where there were previously just 3x2 rows. By the way, you could lose that waste-of-space aisle and stack three more for every two rows. Get rid of the grumpy staff and there'd be even more room.
Indeed, the sky's the limit!
Why do you guys always fall for pathetic publicity stunts like this?
I think he should give money off for people who are willing to flap their arms really hard...
Ryanair is rubbish at the customer satisfaction bit but for the time being people will still be using them as they do the routes people need so the product is right and whatever you say pricing is important in this industry else there wouldn't be success stories such as Jet2, Aer Lingua, BMIBaby etc etc. people think this ridiculous but if it is a way of getting overseas even cheaper people are going to go for it until there is an alternative that adds more value.
Latest statement from Michael O'Leary talks of a new advertising revenue stream. They'll be selling bungee cords & goggles at £5 each for passengers who wish to strap themselves to the wings, and ad space on banners that will trail behind said customers. Travel Insurance companies are said to be keen to sponsor... Wing-walking companies are readying to get involved for 'premium' advertisers...
wing seats seem the most viable option, sure youll need gas masks and blankets but they can charge for those....
People seem to be saying "It's just a stunt to get people talking about them and it's worked". Fair enough but why would any company want the venom that's being directed at Ryanair right now? Some publicity just ain't worth having surely??!
As for their business model, unfortunately we live in a society that is happy to claim rights but unwilling to accept responsibility and this translates as "I want it as cheap as possible and I don't care how that is acheived." Sad.
Cramming more and more people inside an aircraft ups the weight, and therefore they'll have to carry more fuel, which will dent their profits. Unless they're pressurising the cabin with helium...hey, that's an idea. Quick, get me O'Leary. Mikey, the next big money spinner... lighter than air aircraft. Virtually no fuel needed. Cut me in for 20% of the profit...
Comments
MM - 06/07/2009
This is just getting ridiculous now.
Nicola Lucas - 06/07/2009
Why is the headline 'Passengers to stand on Ryanair flights' when they're not standing but sitting on stools. Yeah let's just make things up...
Darren Reilly - 06/07/2009
Nicola... PR Manager for Ryanair pykies!
Tabitha Franklin-Butler - 06/07/2009
Simple answer - just don't fly with such a 'chavy' airline that has such disregard for its passengers
Jim McLaughlin - 06/07/2009
I recently did a talk to c.170 business people. I asked for a show of hands on whether Ryanair's pricing tactics were good or bad. The huge consensus was that, whilst they are likely to make sense in the short term, they will cost more in bad will created. You would not believe the level of venom and disgust for this company. People booed. I also asked how many flew with Ryanair. Most did \(80%?). I asked how many would pay a reasonable amount extra to fly with a company that treated them nicely and the whole room agreed. So maybe we will see charges for smiles and higher levels of courtesy and interest in passengers as Ryanair miss the point again. Ryanair is now, in my mind, exploiting the strength of its' route network and size/cost advantages. At some stage the scales will tip against them. They seem to be intent on building bad will among their customer base. I for one will now factor in "how can I avoid flying ryanair whilst still paying a modest price" into my holiday planning. Seems that Mr O'Leary has let his spreadsheet get the better of his common sense.
Maryland Parker - 06/07/2009
I can´t believe it, though I am thinking this could possible be another of their noisy actions to make everybody talk about them. Here in Spain when Queen Sofia appeared on an ad was huge, and though they had to get rid of the ad, it was already late, as literally everybody were talking about it
Lee H - 07/07/2009
I love it. The man is a twat and a genius!
Jason Edge - 07/07/2009
I've checked the calendar and it's not April Fool's Day. Is O'leary over medicating or something? Surely someone in his senior managemnet team must have the balls to tell him he has already gone too far. Stellios must be wetting himself with glee!
Victor - 07/07/2009
Please just boycott this outfit. You can't treat your customers with this contempt. People will vote with their feet - eventually. Its just like politics except we don't have to wait 5 years until we get a chance to have our say. Goodbye Ryanair
A DIAZ - 07/07/2009
I hear that they will also be offering seats on the wings. Oxygen masks will be fitted on the wings and you have to pay £5 for a pair of goggles. Only problem is that you have to have the same amount of passengers on each wing or the plane becomes unstable. Can I have my fees now Ryanair PR?
Adam Russell - 07/07/2009
Completely agree with Jim on this one. People only fly with Ryanair because they operate the specific route they need to fly - in reality it usually doesn't have much to do with price competitiveness
Mike Page - 07/07/2009
Surely if Ryanair are in talks with Boeing to specifically design a plane with standing room, they'll never be able to recoup the additional cost of the development and small prodcution run of the aircraft. Presumably it will have to be a high roofline too? Most people over 6 feet tall can't stand up straight on a standard Boeing or Airbus aircraft anyway. And you won't be able to stand where you like as you'll have to be where the safety belts \(not seat belts anymore) are located. This whole plan is just not going to be cost effective - new aircraft or totally re-engineering existing ones will cost millions. It's another Ryanair ruse to get people talking about them, and you know what? It's worked!
Matt Stewart - 07/07/2009
Presumably more leg room sitting on a stool? They're merely copying the rail industry, which dispensed with the charming practice of one passenger, one seat and porters to carry your bags years ago.
James Amoroso - 07/07/2009
O'Leary doesn't go far enough... You can get 50% more passengers on the inside by having them lie down horizontally and stacking them three high and six wide. You would get nine in \(3x3) where there were previously just 3x2 rows. By the way, you could lose that waste-of-space aisle and stack three more for every two rows. Get rid of the grumpy staff and there'd be even more room.
James Amoroso - 07/07/2009
Indeed, the sky's the limit!
Simon Jary - 07/07/2009
Why do you guys always fall for pathetic publicity stunts like this?
Ciaran Norris - 07/07/2009
I think he should give money off for people who are willing to flap their arms really hard...
Laura Noble - 07/07/2009
Ryanair is rubbish at the customer satisfaction bit but for the time being people will still be using them as they do the routes people need so the product is right and whatever you say pricing is important in this industry else there wouldn't be success stories such as Jet2, Aer Lingua, BMIBaby etc etc. people think this ridiculous but if it is a way of getting overseas even cheaper people are going to go for it until there is an alternative that adds more value.
Tom Griffiths - 07/07/2009
Latest statement from Michael O'Leary talks of a new advertising revenue stream. They'll be selling bungee cords & goggles at £5 each for passengers who wish to strap themselves to the wings, and ad space on banners that will trail behind said customers. Travel Insurance companies are said to be keen to sponsor... Wing-walking companies are readying to get involved for 'premium' advertisers...
Louis Venter - 07/07/2009
wing seats seem the most viable option, sure youll need gas masks and blankets but they can charge for those....
Tim Misson - 07/07/2009
People seem to be saying "It's just a stunt to get people talking about them and it's worked". Fair enough but why would any company want the venom that's being directed at Ryanair right now? Some publicity just ain't worth having surely??! As for their business model, unfortunately we live in a society that is happy to claim rights but unwilling to accept responsibility and this translates as "I want it as cheap as possible and I don't care how that is acheived." Sad.
Mike Page - 07/07/2009
Cramming more and more people inside an aircraft ups the weight, and therefore they'll have to carry more fuel, which will dent their profits. Unless they're pressurising the cabin with helium...hey, that's an idea. Quick, get me O'Leary. Mikey, the next big money spinner... lighter than air aircraft. Virtually no fuel needed. Cut me in for 20% of the profit...