Ryanair claims new promotion 'pays people to fly’

Ryanair is claiming to be the first airline to pay passengers to travel, with the launch of a new promotion whereby the carrier is giving away free seats and paying GBP1 towards airport charges and taxes. The airline’s latest offer lasts until midnight on Thursday, with flights having to be taken between Thursday and 20 December. According to the Daily Telegraph, the carrier’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said the promotion represented around 40 per cent of the carrier’s total capacity for the period in question. He reportedly said: “We are so crazy we will pay people to fly with us. I can imagine the diary writers saying Ryanair must be desperate.” He added: “This year we are going much further than out original business plan. The yield decline is 10%, to 15%. But instead of growing capacity by 20% we are going to increase it 50%.” City analysts were quick to point out that Ryanair would not necessarily lose out on the deal. One told the newspaper: “Even a free seat minus £1 doesn’t necessarily mean Ryanair loses money. They still make commission when people book cars or hotels.”