Ryanair to remove ‘luxuries’ – like reclining seats

Ryanair is to offer even less frills to its passengers in an effort to further cut costs, and has reportedly ordered a new fleet of specially stripped-down aircraft. According to newspaper reports, the carrier has ordered such “luxury” fittings such as head rests, seat pockets, window blinds and reclining seats to be removed from a recently-ordered batch of aircraft, and is also considering asking passengers to carry their own luggage on board to further cut costs. The airline says that cutting out baggage handling in this way could cut costs by up to one fifth. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary reportedly told The Sunday Times: “Think about it: people are happy to carry a bag on to buses so why not on to airlines. It could be revolutionary. Most of the space in airports is devoted to baggage handling. It is not just a question of staff. It would mean smaller airports, simpler facilities and lower charges.” The carrier further claims that not having reclining seats could save GBP1.3 million a year; doing away with window blinds will save GBP130,000 per plane, and that removing seat pockets would save on cleaning costs and reduce turnaround times. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad