Ryanair tells cabin crew to lose weight in latest bid to save money
Cost cutting measures introduced as fuel prices rise steeply
By: PATRICK COUNIHAN | Published Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 6:13 AM | Updated Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 8:06 AM
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has advised cabin crew to watch their weight – in a bid to save on rising fuel costs.
The controversial airline chief has also reduced the size of his in-flight magazine, cut the amount of ice served with drinks, and considered removing armrests.
The budget airline is also in favour of a fat-tax on heavier passengers who would be asked to pay more for their seats.
As fuel prices rise dramatically, the airline has admitted it is taking extraordinary measures to save costs.
“We cut costs wherever possible, and the changes will represent a significant reduction in weight,” said Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara in an interview with the
Irish Independent.
“We also considered removing armrests, but decided against it. We even encourage staff to watch their weight - with the motivation of appearing in the annual Ryanair calendar.”
New measures include cutting the size of the in-flight magazine which will also save on its printing bill.
Cabin crew are to serve less ice with drinks while trolleys and seats are to be reduced in weight.
McNamara did confirm that Ryanair is committed to its promise not to introduce fuel surcharges unlike other airlines.
“Fuel is an integral part of the fare - you can’t fly passengers anywhere without it,” added McNamara.
“We would rather make cost reductions and charge passengers for other services.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.e92 | Apr 11, 2012, 06:47 PM EDT
Why don't you have every staff member cut all their hair off ala Sinead Oconnor circa 1980s too!!
paddyRanger | Apr 07, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
Yes McColgan, Drive by car from Savannah to Atlanta and then fly Atlanta-London-Dublin would indeed make most sense, it is what I would do, if however he has a reason to want to fly direct in to Dublin from the USA using Aerlingus (maybe he does not like London) he would have to go through JFK. Continental would be out of EWR.
Scrivner | Apr 06, 2012, 03:12 PM EDT
Don;t be picking on the large ones, in an emergency they can be used as a floatation device, whilst the skinny ones die of hypothermia.
MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 06, 2012, 02:42 PM EDT
Paddy Ranger, isn't it quicker to fly thru LHR than to fly all the way up to NY from Savannah?????? That is what didn't make sense... you are talking around 1,000 miles vs. ???
paddyRanger | Apr 06, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT
and yes LHR is London, so Ciara, how is it untrue, you questioning what I said >?
paddyRanger | Apr 06, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT
What's untrue ? what I am saying does'nt make sense, how does it not make sense, yes McColgan, Atlanta, Baltimore and Philly are close to Savannah than JFK or Newark, but Aerlingus does not fly out of them if you want to go with Aerlingus you have to go out of JFK.....if you go through ATL, BWI or PHL like I said it is NOT direct, you would have to go through LHR or CDG, simple as that. Aerlingus advertises that it goes out of 40 cities or more out of the US....but you would have to go through a Aerlingus gateway of either JFK, ORD, SFO or LAX that's the only four they used when I worked for them, there was plans on going out of DCA, and for awhile they went out of MCO but I don't beloieve they do because of cutbacks.
MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 05, 2012, 03:43 PM EDT
ciara thanks, something about it didnt make sense...
ciaradexy | Apr 05, 2012, 03:21 PM EDT
LHR, London heathrow? By this way, this story is untrue.
MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 05, 2012, 02:20 PM EDT
paddy ranger--- thanks for the info---however, ATL, BWI and PHI are still closer than Kennedy or Newark to Savannah... What is LHR?
paddyRanger | Apr 05, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT
McColgan1492 "Georgie the Wanker-- you went on recently about being from Savannah, not Seatle... Now you claim that you fly out of JFK or Newark to get to Ireland........ Not only are you a coward, you are a liar......".........in fairness to the fat wanker coward georgie boy, he is not lying about having to depart out of JFK/EWR to go to Ireland, there is no direct flights out of Savannah to Ireland, and he could have gone down to MCO (Orlando) but Aerlingus cancelled those, the only way to Ireland would be from either ATL, BWI, PHL, MCO etc but you would have to transit through LHR......trust me I am in the industry used to work for Aerlingus ...now in a logistics job elsewhere but still now my flights and airports.
seagreen | Apr 05, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT
Perhaps O'Leary could address the various problems incurred on flights these day with some specific aircraft to deal with the peculiarities of the passengers. Of course they could not be daily flights due to the volume of traffic, but two flights a week might work ! For those that are overweight and have long legs (myself)he would be able to operate a couple of C-130's with longitudinal bench seats.....Other planes could be sectioned off with plexi-glass to contain the omnipresent screaming kids (they could press their noses against the glass and not be heard....Perhaps a couple of air- freight planes for those that consider a steamer trunk carry on baggage. fold down seats would be practical. To combat those that have to absolutely beat everyone else off the plane, seat belt unlocking devices operated in a central area by the flight crew in sequence might work. The food is so good, that it is hard to imaging any improvement there...
merefalow | Apr 05, 2012, 06:51 AM EDT
fatties should pay double,its bloody murder being squashed up next to one and they can seriously upset the center of gravity of an aircraft just by whaling up and down the isle,they make the aircraft act like a rollocoaster,and if they all get up and go to the loo at the same time,write your will.
IrelandNorth | Apr 05, 2012, 05:27 AM EDT
Cabin crew are primarily female, at least on Aer O'Leary. After getting his sad faced east-European babes to lose their kits for his saucy calendar, now he wants anexoric staff? With the wages they're paid, they're unlikely to overeat. What does he weigh himself. Still, a fat tax is in order. I was stuck beside an overweight Englishman on flying back to Ireland from the Holy Land via UK in 2010. He needed a seat per butt cheek. Should have been changed double fair. Why should a fit Irish guy like me subsidise an obese Anglo-Saxon like him?
sirpeter | Apr 04, 2012, 09:52 PM EDT
GeorgeDillon. Don't be talking about weight.Even your username looks fat.
irishpjk | Apr 04, 2012, 05:35 PM EDT
I think he flew on the airline with the shamrock, and got worried that his cabin crew could end up with the same girt as theirs.
oldboreen | Apr 04, 2012, 05:20 PM EDT
Yerra get away out o' that,are ye on something Silling?-Or have ye the drink takin?
Murph46 | Apr 04, 2012, 04:12 PM EDT
seagreen-whatever trips your trigger,meself I just got two goats and some lemons!
ciaradexy | Apr 04, 2012, 03:40 PM EDT
Dont mind Georgie! His story is kinda 'One flew over the cuckoos nest'. Hes in a trance most of the time and sits docile in the corner but once the meds wear off the goes a bot mad, blurts out loads of incoherent nonsense and then hes back in a daze again for a bit. he got an Irish passport cos he married a Nigerian woman who had a kid here. Hes to be pitied more than anything really.
MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 04, 2012, 03:04 PM EDT
Georgie the Wanker-- you went on recently about being from Savannah, not Seatle... Now you claim that you fly out of JFK or Newark to get to Ireland........ Not only are you a coward, you are a liar......
antoman | Apr 04, 2012, 03:01 PM EDT
Two asses. In fairness the pilot should be told so we can get home. Otherwise he might cause us to tip over like.
MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 04, 2012, 02:51 PM EDT
Georgie the Wanker- any plane you get on has at least one jack ass....
ciaradexy | Apr 04, 2012, 02:23 PM EDT
George, theyre probably irish emigrants who have assimilated into your general population. They may even be your own family!
seagreen | Apr 04, 2012, 02:17 PM EDT
Murph 46 How can you say that ! I just got an unwanted oil delivery this morning, and the UPS guy delivered two pair of Carhartt's
GeorgeDillon | Apr 04, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT
Antoman aka sirpeter is just an ignorant fool who never travels anywhere. I can always tell that I am getting near the departure gate for Ireland at JFK or Newark when I see the increasing number of fat asses squeezed into dirty running suits. And those folks ain't American...
KathleenBerrio | Apr 04, 2012, 12:12 PM EDT
Antoman, if they took into account ignorant comments such as yours, you'd be paying double fare.
Silling | Apr 04, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
Michael O'Leary should ban the fool Irish breakfast, too heavy. There is no need for his staff to wear jewelry either, or make up, it all weighs. No need for locks on the toilet doors, we can keep them closed with our feet. A barber shop in the arrival hall to trim the unnecessary hair would not go amiss. O'Leary is educating the populous on frugality and we should be grateful to him for that. After all, he is not overweight himself and thus can set the precedent. I love flying Ryan Air because there is an energy from the minute one buys the ticket online and on the actual day, people become Celtic no matter what nationality they are. Keep it up Michael, push us harder and charge us more because it is more than a service you provide, we are constantly being entertained.
bob40wil | Apr 04, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
Yes seagreen and it would be a very profitable whorehouse.
bob40wil | Apr 04, 2012, 12:07 PM EDT
So, antoman, dislike Americans much?
antoman | Apr 04, 2012, 11:47 AM EDT
This article highlights something I've being saying for years. When our pilots in Ireland are told there is say 200 people aboard. They should then inquire if any of the 200 are Americans. On hearing that 50 of them are American. They should then double the weight of that passenger and as there's 50 of them, well the proper calculations have to be done. You see aviation is'nt taking into account obesity. They use statistics from the 70's. So if you are sat in a plane and most of the accents you hear are American. Hope the pilot is Irish. :)
MickRegan | Apr 04, 2012, 10:23 AM EDT
Irish Central what are ye like! Could i encourage you to think about your headlines, or maybe even 'tell' you to do so as that seems to mean the same thing :)
Murph46 | Apr 04, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT
I don't think seagreen is gettin any!
seagreen | Apr 04, 2012, 09:59 AM EDT
Yeah I know ! This guy is a genius.... If this guy was not running an airline, he would be operating a whorehouse. Every promotion,advertisement, and scheme involves controlling a group of women. This guy needs the pink plantation hat,shades, powder blue leisure suit,and the medallion hanging from his neck...
bogsidebunny | Apr 04, 2012, 07:34 AM EDT
Michael O'leary is an absolute genius. Although his "schemes" may seem a bridge too far they generate plenty of publicity. And publicity is what oils the Capitalist machine. Michael's a consumate capitalist. And that's why 80% of the (Socialist motivated) Irish are annoyed by him. They'd rather complain, carp and "give-out" about a real motivated achiever than join the club. Most of the complainers still use his airline with money from their dole handouts. No matter what the political or finacial agenda the results are the same. Money is bound to flow from the hands of the "instant gratification" seekers into the bank accounts of the Capitalist entrepreneurs.