03 March 2009

Irish airline considers in-flight loo charges

The head of Ryanair has suggested the idea of pay toilets.

Michael O'Leary said future passengers on his European no-frills airline might be obliged to insert a British pound coin before using the restroom.

The airline's staff wasn't sure if he was joking. O'Leary pioneered charging airline customers to check bags, to use a check-in desk and to use a credit or debit card to make an on-line booking.

Ryanair is considering charging passengers Ã&#pound;1 to use the toilet on its flights.

In an interview on BBC television this morning, Mr OÃ¢â¬â¢Leary said that the low-cost airline was looking at the possibility of installing a coin slot on the lavatory door so that Ã¢â¬Åâœpeople might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny.

O'Leary said that Ryanair was determined to make air travel easier and more affordable. Ã¢â¬ÅâœI donÃ¢â¬â¢t think thereÃ¢â¬â¢s anybody in history gone on board a Ryanair flight with less than a pound,Ã¢â¬~ he said.

Later, Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: "Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it."

The airline feels ancillary revenues, all of which are avoidable, help to reduce the cost of flying Ryanair and passengers using train and bus stations are already accustomed to paying to use the toilet so why not on airplanes?

The Dublin-based airline has gained a reputation for its high booking fees and ancillary charges.