Ryanair wants to axe all but one toilet on its' planes

O’Leary attempts to flush out toilets on short haul flights

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Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair

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Michael O’Leary has shocked the aviation world with his latest money making racket – just one toilet for almost 200 passengers aboard his Ryanair jets.

The budget airline has unveiled plans to cut the number of toilets on its Boeing aircraft to just one from three and use the extra space for more seats.

The airline is free to make the move as there is no legislation regarding the number of toilets per passenger load.

Under the plan, up to 200 passengers and six staff would have to share the one toilet on Ryanair flights, a move that has been branded a ‘step too far’ by some aviation industry experts.

O’Leary, boss of the no-frills airline, claims the loo savings will allow the company to reduce passenger fares by about five per cent.

Current average ticket prices of $62 would drop by $4 if O’Leary reduces the number of toilets for passengers to spend a penny!
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Defending the plan, O’Leary claimed: “Bathroom facilities on aircraft are very rarely all used.”
He added: “This move would fundamentally lower air fares by about 5 per cent for all passengers.

“We’re trying to push Boeing to re-certify the aircraft for six more seats, particularly for short-haul flights. We very rarely use all three toilets on board our aircraft anyway.”

Renowned for cost cutting measures, Ryanair previously provoked fury when it announced plans to charge passengers to use the toilets.

The budget airline carries an estimated 75 million passengers every year aboard a fleet of Boeing 737-800 planes. Ryanair has installed 189 seats on each plane, the maximum permitted under current rules.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has criticized the plans to reduce the number of toilets on Ryanair planes.

“We all know how inconvenient it can be if a toilet on a plane is out of order or the annoyance of queuing if someone has air sickness in one of the cubicles,” said an ABTA spokesman.

“This move could be a step too far in Ryanair’s ongoing mission to provide a totally no-frills service.”

Boeing refused to comment on the proposal. A spokesman at the firm’s Seattle base said: “We’re always listening to what our customers need but don’t discuss those conversations or any business decisions.”

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