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Ryanair toilet charge possible "within 18 months"

Published: 02/06/2009 - Filed under: News »

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Ryanair could go through with its plans to charge passengers to use its toilets within 18 months, CEO Michael O’Leary said today (June 2).

O’Leary said the charge could result in passengers learning to use airport toilets ahead of an hour long flight, reducing the need for in-flight facilities.

In the future extra seats could replace all but one aircraft toilet resulting in increased capacity and revenues, O’Leary said.

O’Leary claimed aircraft manufacturer Boeing, keen to install more seats in its aircraft, was looking into new door mechanisms which could be in place within the next 18 months.

Comparing the proposed "spend a penny" charge to that already in place at some London railway stations, O’Leary said passengers “always have a choice”.

“Our passengers can choose to pay a pound for the toilet, no one's forcing them to,” he said.

“They’ll learn to go to the toilet before boarding, and they’ll go after landing. It's an hour's flight, they'll survive.

“We don’t want to charge our passengers more, we want them to use toilets less. It’s about changing customer behaviour.”

Outlining a vision for the future, O’Leary said charging more for “extras” could one day mean zero air fare with all revenue coming from ancillary charges such as baggage check-in fees.

The announcement was made during a press conference in which Ryanair reported a sharp 78% drop in full-year profits to €105m. Average air fares and revenues per passenger also fell last year, while passenger volume saw 15% growth.

As for charging overweight passengers more to fly, O’Leary said there was no practical way of doing so. The charge was the most popular result of a “discretionary charge” competition launched in March.

When asked whether he’d one day charge passengers £5 to use the toilet, O’Leary said for that much he would “walk them down the aisle” himself.

For more information visit ryanair.co.uk.

Report by Andy Gough

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COMMENTS » 

MarcusUK - 02/06/2009 21:36

I wonder what the legal implication of this is? As airlines would have an obligation to provide toilets, as do airports, No?

The rights of passengers under EU regulations, or Human rights Law, could easily be challenged, traded for profit. Discrimination for eg against a passenger with medical related problems, either spontaneous or Known, would be easily winable in Court.

Perhaps their passengers should have a mass protest, each take a bottle of water on Board, & make sure by the end of the flight we pass it back out n leave it on the seat when we leave. The well known Chinese proverb, "A wise bird, never Sh--ts in its own nest", may produce more fluid than they wish to handle!!!

lucycheeseman85 - 04/06/2009 09:55

Mr O'Leary seems to think that 'going to the toilet' is a matter of choice. Lets re-educate him - it is a necessity! We are not children, his condescending quotes are offensive. The negative publicity that this will cause for Ryan Air is sure to hit their profits further. Lets hope passengers boycott the airline and choose to travel on other (and often better) budget airlines will choose not to charge passengers for the most basic of necessities.

travelworld - 04/06/2009 09:56

The simple way to deal with this is not to fly on Ryanair, a policy I adopted two years ago......

RichardBarr - 04/06/2009 11:02

All there fees are getting ubsurd. The added stress and worry isn't worth the reduced airfares. At the end of the day, these flight options may be more expensive than using a premium airline. I for one will NOT use Ryanair!

Biggless - 04/06/2009 11:45

Folks, what is your problem? You have to go to the loo BUT you don't have to fly Ryanair. I have no issue with Ryanair starting to charge to use the toilet, it just underlines the difference between the low cost model and proper airlines. I prefer to fly BA or KLM (2nd choice) on my travels and I don't think they will ever be thinking of charging for the loo. So dump Ryanair. One comment on legal responsiblities, I arrived in Kings Cross a few weeks ago from Newcastle and was very surprised to find that the loos at the station cost 50p. So I don't think there is any legal obligation to provide free loos !

MarcusUK - 04/06/2009 21:29

Interesting debate & my time for Ryanair is well n truly over, only leisure trips for awkward routes anyhow, some years ago. Legally though, be interesting for BT to Consult & to form a view if this would be legal? We are not on the ground, we cannot choose where to use a toilet or if we are being flown on an airline (like at Kings X). As mentioned, going to the toilet but being further restricted could be a breach of rights, as such facilities must be provided in most establishments, travel related industries etc, but what are the EU requirements?

There could well be an element of discrimination, or those with medical reasons make a challenge to Ryanair..be very interesting. I am sure no one would Take the P...s if they tried, but you may get charged £1!!!

Sure, when Full service Airlines have fares from £85 from LHR like KLM / BA, who would take low cost / high rip off?

Ricjackal - 05/06/2009 20:04

So there i am stood by the locked loo door with a bent £1 / 2 euro coin, the stews the other end of the asile and nobody s got any spare change,( surprise surprise!! ) will my pee affect anything essential when it runs down my leg and under the floor ( at the rear of a 737 ??? ) ..... Answers on a postcard please to ; Mr M A D O* Leary c/o Ryanair...... You know ... dont bother.... This comment s just going down the Pan !!!!!!

usleprechaun - 06/06/2009 15:56

Solutions for O'Leary may include: a lightweight shower curtain at each exit where anxious passengers can quickly slip into a combination airsickness-depends(Diaper Nappy) and return comfortably to their seat....passengers can mail the used item to O'Leary for re-cycling and carbon credits.

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