plasticAF has it right.
MoL's not going to remove seats because the retro-fitting cost is high and then that has to be reversed when the aircraft goes to it's next owner. Except that it's owned by a leasing company and they will have to agree first.
Further, the continually stated aim of a/c policy for FR is 'standardisation' and it has been a winner for them. If you start having some a/c that have a single WC, it then cannot be (easily) used for their longest routes. So if a 3xWC goes tech and you only have a 1xWC machine available for a long route? Do you canx and pay compensation? Do you warn pax and send it but then they don't buy your expensive drinks? What if there is protracted turbulence and they are strapped in for 45 mins? If you think that FR pax moan now - even as they get safely to their destination - think what they would say if the grannies and children could not get to the loo in time? Therefore, as
plasticAF says, it's a diversionary tactic. If they have not already used the advert "Free toilets" they soon will.
The biggest problem at FR have is that they are now a financially mature organisation - so their expansion has slowed. They have made financial headlines by their annual leaps in profit - which are no longer possible. That is due to having established almost all the routes that are viable for them and the continuing recession. Not to mention that many of their airport/regional grant agreements are expiring and not being renewed (Reus in Spain is but one that I know of) so he has to find other sources of income to make the outfit expand financially.
If MoL wanted to grow the business to provide a service to happy customers - then he could feel satisfied - but that's not what drives him, so he has to do something else.
