Ryanair to remove Toilets ???

[fesmokie]

October 13, 2011



Ryanair now to remove toilets from its planes



We’ll admit, we kind of have a fascination with Ryanair.

Why? Well, can’t say for sure. Not only does Ryanair not fly to Canada, it doesn’t even fly to North America, meaning only backpackers and Euro travellers have ever sat on one of the outfits Boeing 737-800’s.

But much in the way that Entourage is considered “lifestyle porn,” Ryanair is a kind of airline porn, in that the headlines it makes are irresistible to anyone that’s ever flown on a plane.

Now, after a laundry list of budget saving initiatives we’ll discuss below, Ryanair is proposing its latest strategy to slash fares for budget travellers: removing toilets from its planes.


About a year-and-a-half after the Dublin-based airline sparked controversy with its move to charge passengers to use its washrooms, bombastic Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary now just wants to do away with his loos, nearly altogether.

*Bing: Is it cheaper to book airfare last-minute or way in advance?

O’Leary says he’s in talks with Boeing to remove two of the three toilets found on-board Ryanair’s planes. Doing so would allow adding six more seats to its cabins.

Ryanair, which carries 75 million passengers a year, flies as many as 189 passengers each flight. If three toilets (or one toilet per 63 people) are brought down to one, and six more seats are included, that leaves just one can for 195 travellers. Legally speaking, according to the Independent, there is no legal stipulation for an airline to provide even one washroom on its aircrafts.

In O’Leary’s defence, once more, he always brings these wild ideas public for the benefit of the passenger. No matter what he proposes, he always insists, at least, it’s all for lowering fares.

“(Removing two of three toilets) would fundamentally lower air fares by about five per cent for all passengers,” he says, noting that about three bucks of a typical $65 ticket might be saved if more seats can be added to Ryanair’s cabins.

In previous bids to bring down airfare, or at least cater to Ryanair’s idea of what travellers want, the airline has floated the idea of flying with just one pilot per flight, adopting standing-room only trips and even child-free flights, which Ryanair says are coming this fall.

[plasticAF]

Call me cynical but every time he gets one of these in the press look to the fares/charges. I bet they go up.
Diversionary tactics.

rolling out now

[nitpicker330]

After pax start wetting seats and his cleaning costs skyrocket he might just regret the idea.
Not to mention the odd diversion thrown in......

[aterpster]

Not to mention a big load of semi-liquid **** on the seat.

[Master2k]

RyanAir is well known to create controversy in order to get free publicity :)

Living in Ireland, I have flown with RyanAir 4 times so far and it's not bad :)

Regards

[PAXboy]

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. :p

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.
:zzz:

[ExXB]

Actually PAXboy - it isn't that costly to increase/decrease the number of seats with one caveat. Airlines do it all the time as their needs change, etc, etc.

However an airline may not add more seats than the aircraft is certified for (i.e by government regulators). In the case of the B737-800 operated by Cryanair the FAA has certified this aircraft for a maximum of 189 passenger seats. The UK and other EU authorities have accepted the FAA's certification meaning that it is also applicable in the EU.

As Cryanair's fleet of B737-800 aircraft is already configured to the maximum 189 seats they cannot add any more seats (or standing-up seat variants). Of course they could take out as many toilets as they want (there are no rules on minimum numbers), but they couldn't add seats.

All we have here is Cryanair's 'get free-advertising' policy. All they have to do is say something outrageous and the media goes on a feeding frenzy. We shouldn't cater to their games. If you see this crap in print - complain to the publication that they are repeating drivel without determining if the drivel is even possible.

[TSR2]

I thought the Ryanair B738's were configured with 189 seats.

[750XL]

However an airline may not add more seats than the aircraft is certified for (i.e by government regulators). In the case of the B737-800 operated by Cryanair the FAA has certified this aircraft for a maximum of 159 passenger seats. The UK and other EU authorities have accepted the FAA's certification meaning that it is also applicable in the EU.

As Cryanair's fleet of B737-800 aircraft is already configured to the maximum 159 seats they cannot add any more seats (or standing-up seat variants). Of course they could take out as many toilets as they want (there are no rules on minimum numbers), but they couldn't add seats.

159? :E

Add 30 more seats and you've got it :ok:

[ShyTorque]

slash fares for budget travellers: removing toilets from its planes.

Good use of words....

But surely the passengers will recognise a "p***-take" like this?

Perhaps they should re-name the airline "No Go".

[kenhughes]

Could give a whole new meaning to wet-lease.

[EW73]

Never happen...

Regardless of any relationship to numbers of pax per toilet, it's the crew that will quickly put a stop to any decision to remove all the loos!

The EU would never allow a workplace (i.e. the airplane) to be devoid of any toilets for those that work there.
Same as your employer cannot remove all the toilets from any workplace, regardless of where that workplace is.

This is all purely shock advertising value from someone whose done it all before!

[ExXB]

Apologies, not only did I misstate it, I repeated it.

Maximum passenger seats on a B737-800 is

189 seats

[matkat]

not according to the type certificate
8. Centre of Gravity Range: See Approved Airplane Flight Manual
9. Datum: Weight & Balance Manual
10. Mean Aerodynamic Cord (MAC): 3.96 m (155.81 in)
11. Levelling Means: Weight & Balance Manual
12. Maximum Passenger Seating Capacity: 149 (with JAA/737-700/SC/D-14 applicable)
or otherwise: 145

[OverRun]

matkat,

I think that your extract might be from another variant; perhaps the -700. The -800s haul many more pax.

[Leatherman]

MOL goes into a DUB bar(he is not going airside soon so does not need to fear the zero level breathalyser).
Orders a pint of Guinness and the barman pours it in the time honoured manner. Leaving it to stand he says"that's one euro please".
MOL digs deep in the pocket and proclaims,"one euro? fantastic. That's very competitive"
But the bar man replies" and twenty euros for the glass":ugh::cool::ok:

[ExXB]

From Boeing, the B737NGs have the following maximum capacity:

B737-600: 130 seats,
B737-700: 148 seats,
B737-800: 189 seats,
B737-900: 189 seats, (due to same exit door config. as the -800)
B737-900ER: 215 seats (additional pair of exit doors vs -800/900)

I believe the -900 is only operated in Europe by KLM (mixed c/y configuration) and is now out of production. Only the -900ERs are being produced.

[Hotel Tango]

Personally MOL can do what the heck he wishes. Never flown RYR and never will.

[Runaround Valve]

One toilet, and if that becomes unusable for some reason, then as per the Minimum Equiptment/ Deferred Items list the aircraft then cannot be despatched. This would be the case.
Did any one in Ryanair think about this. ???

[PAXboy]

They are not serious. Just as they weren't serious for:


Standing up flights only
Charging for using the toilets
<fill in the blanks>

It's called free editorial advertising and it's a great way to save money. like when he told staff to pinch free ball point pens from hotels to use at work, as they were not going to provide them any more.

[Piltdown Man]

Personally MOL can do what the heck he wishes. Never flown RYR and never will.

......Me too.

[PAXboy]

As I think you already know, RYANAIR DONT CARE, Michael O'leary and David Bonderman don't care about you either!

[PAXboy]

Yes, RDC, I expect an employer to care for all their staff and all their customers. But we all know that not all companies do so. I have worked for some! (and for the record, have never worked for FR)

[Lightning Mate]

The cabin crew of Ryanair are wonderful...............

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Ryanairstewardess.jpg