Ryanair's most outrageous ideas to cut costs - from standing seats to £1 loos and 'fat tax'

Daily Mail​

22-05-2025

It was reported yesterday that standing seats could be introduced on budget airlines in the very near future.
The seats, which are being introduced by manufacturer Aviointeriors, will increase passenger capacity by 20 per cent.
And, while Ryanair has denied plans to use them, CEO Michael O'Leary has been vocal about his desire to implement the 'standing berths'.
In 2012, he said he wanted his Boeing's 737 and 800 fitted with 10 rows of them and 15 rows of traditional seats.
At the time, Michael suggested the standing tickets may potentially cost as little as £1 to £5.
But it's not the most outrageous cost-cutting idea Michael has had in the past 40 years of operating – even claiming in 2007 that Ryanair would be running flights across the Atlantic for just £6.
Toilet troubles
In 2009, he told the BBC that he was considering fitting the airline's toilet doors with coin-slots so that passengers would have to pay £1 to use them.
At the time, Ryanair's PR chief Steven McNamara added: 'I don't think it's going to happen in the foreseeable future.
'It's one of those things that when Michael starts looking at something, you know, it's always up for discussion.'
Michael later admitted the idea was unfeasible and would go against EU regulations.
He later considered getting rid of two of the three toilets found on his aircraft in order to make room for more seats, suggesting it would save passengers a 'jaw-dropping' £2 on tickets.
Cockpit cuts
Michael even once suggested cutting the cockpit crew in half.
In 2010, he said to Bloomberg BusinessWeek: 'Why does every plane have two pilots?'
'Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it.'
He suggested training a member of the cabin crew to take over in the event that the sole pilot had a medical emergency.
'Fat tax'
In 2009, Ryanair announced it would introduce a 'fat tax' for overweight flyers – with Michael suggesting it was after listening to customer feedback.
At the time, a spokesman for the airline said: 'A 'fat tax' will only apply to those really large passengers who invade the space of the passengers sitting beside them.
'These charges, if introduced, might also act as an incentive to some of our very large passengers to lose a little weight and hopefully feel a little lighter and healthier.'
On-board porn
In November 2011, Michael said Ryanair was working on an in-flight app which would offer paid-for content, including pornography and online gambling.
He told The Sun: 'It would be on handheld devices. Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn't we?'
This, thankfully, never happened.
No armrests
One of the few comfortable parts of Ryanair's seats that still exists are the armrests.
But in 2012, the airline said it was planning to scrap them, in order to reduce aircraft weight.
Other mooted fuel-saving tricks at the time included reducing the amount of ice taken on board, slimming down the size of the Ryanair magazine, and using lighter trolleys for the bar service.
'Business' baloney
Ryanair now has an add-on option for passengers of a bigger bag allowance, fast-track boarding and 'premium' seating – which is just seats located near the front or back of the aircraft, or on an exit row with more legroom.
But it was originally called 'Business Plus' – despite not offering lounge access, complimentary food and drink, or a separate cabin.
Due to this, the word 'Business' was dropped from the name.
It comes after we revealed Ryanair had been told to refund a passenger £124 over hand luggage charges.
A landmark court ruling in Salamanca, Spain, earlier this month decided that hand luggage is an essential part of air travel and should not be subject to extra fees.
The passenger involved in the case will be reimbursed £124 (€147) for hand luggage costs charged on five flights between 2019 and 2024 following the judgment.