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Home Page > News > Storm as Ryanair boss says he’ll allow porn on planes

Storm as Ryanair boss says he’ll allow porn on planes

Forced to cancel plans after widespread protests from industry - PHOTOS

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 7:22 AM

Updated Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 9:54 AM

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Photo taken at the launch of the 2012 Ryanair calendar - Michael O'Leary with his air hostesses

PHOTOS - Ryanair 2012 Calendar slideshow

Ryanair Boss Michael O'Leary has told the Sun newspaper that he would allow porn on his planes on hand held devices or tablets.

“Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn’t we?” he said.

O'Leary told The Sun: "I'm not talking about having it on screens on the back of seats for everyone to see. It would be on handheld devices.

He stated passengers could log on to a Ryanir app using their smart phones or tablets and then could pay to gamble, watch movies or turn the skies blue.

He said the plan could take a year to take off giving the cost of installing broadband on the planes.

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O’Learys comments set off a firestorm of criticism and the airline later was forced to retract his comments.

A Ryanair spokesperson said:

"While Michael encourages Ryanair’s ancillary revenue teams to explore all optional products to ensure our airfares remain the lowest in Europe, our onboard sales and services will always be family friendly."

Bob Atkinson, of Travelsupermarket, said: "There may be a market for porn in hotels, but that's in the privacy of a room. Anyone could see it on a plane. It's wrong."

O’Leary is no stranger to controversy. He recently published his airline’s 21012 calendar featuring scantily clad women all of whom work for him.

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warlocks | Nov 09, 2011, 12:53 AM EST

I for one don't think porn has a place on Airplanes that have Families with children flying on them. Private & Business Aircraft would be ok where there would be less chance of having children flying on them.---- Has Society sunk this Low that they can't wait to watch Seedy & immoral Movies before they Land !

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rosks304 | Nov 08, 2011, 11:27 PM EST

Standing room flights,single toilet flights and now porn-flights,O Leary definitely seems to be losing it.

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walter3ca | Nov 08, 2011, 10:48 PM EST

My God, doesn't he know how difficult it is to use a tablet with one hand?

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timbobdennehy | Nov 08, 2011, 10:34 PM EST

to all the anti-porn people,you would have to use a credit card to access the porn,just like the gambling,so no kids are going to be able to see it.besides they will grow up eventually,and realise what their bits are for they should'nt grow up to be ashamed of the human body.anyway you could always blindfold them.

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JOHNTOBIN | Nov 08, 2011, 08:23 PM EST

I will repeat what I said on another site earler-cheap and tatty.

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roibaird | Nov 08, 2011, 08:11 PM EST

So what? a simple word tells the story--------CHOICE........... if porn is your thing ok...... if not.dont choose it!

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peterson | Nov 08, 2011, 05:58 PM EST

Disgusting. What's next, "rest" rooms for gays ??

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merefalow | Nov 08, 2011, 03:02 PM EST

i think the man understands free publicity,he would never do it but it winds gullible people up and gets them talking about his airline,brilliant thats why he is so successfull..

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bogsidebunny | Nov 08, 2011, 12:49 PM EST

God bless Michael O'Leary. The only Irishman without the hypocrite gene. PS: jackinny: At least it'll keep the beer, vodka and cider out of their hands. Those potent brews are more dangerous than peeking a naked flesh!

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jackinny | Nov 08, 2011, 12:45 PM EST

I imagine the tablets won't be the only things handheld.Sorry folks but someone had to say it

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TheaterFan | Nov 08, 2011, 12:08 PM EST

Dogsbottom, try to see if someone will loan you a dictionary so you can look up the difference between "there" and "their".

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cabbagehead44 | Nov 08, 2011, 12:02 PM EST

Does O 'Leary care that children will be exposed to this porn and his stewardesses will have one more duty added to their busy work schedules to determine if a young person is legally old enough to view it.

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bimjimmy | Nov 08, 2011, 10:32 AM EST

C'mon, people, stop encouraging this juvenile attention-seeking chump. Anything to get his name in the news... what's going to be attacked next?

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Oldwildrover | Nov 08, 2011, 10:31 AM EST

Right on...dogsbottom

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dogsbottom | Nov 08, 2011, 09:55 AM EST

fair play to o Leary the man's got balls, only for him passengers would still be paying astronomical air fairs to uk and Europe. I remember being charge£380 old pounds 25 years ago from Dublin to London by or national air carrier air fungus/lingus, what would it be today €5000 if them over paid bastards got there way. pity Ryan air has not got into long distance yet, to help our poor people that have to leave there home land in search of work far away. we need more Michael o Leary's to kick ass in Ireland to brake the backs of civil servants and bad governance of our people by the past lead fianna fail and the happy circle of jobs for the boy's still rotten our country like a cancer. we need to reform our unions and rip the civil service apart do away with travel tax. the tourist is being ripped of enough on there stay in Ireland

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