Ryanair to gamble on free fares?

Proceeds from in-flight gambling could eventually lead to Ryanair offering free flights for all passengers.

The claim reportedly came from the Irish no-frills airline's chief executive Michael O'Leary as he unveiled plans to offer the use of mobile telephones on board flights by next spring.

He sees gambling via mobile phones or airline-provided equipment as producing as much as £170 million in revenue at virtually no cost, according the The Guardian.

The airline boss suggested that the success of in-flight gaming and services such as insurance and car hire could make flights free within four to five years.

"Entertainment is where the real money will be made in the future," O'Leary reportedly said.

Meanwhile, Ryanair is to bring forward the launch of four out of 10 new routes from Nottingham East Midlands Airport by a month to February 2006. Services to Limoges, Bergerac, Wroclaw and Lodz will start on February 8 and 9 rather than March 15 and 15.

The airline also unveiled plans to give away two million free seats by November 10 to mark strong punctuality figures.

Report by Phil Davies

Thursday, November 3, 2005

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