Injured On An Airplane?

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Written by Ben Mutzabaugh

Published by USA Today

Ryanair’s proposed toilet fee is back in the news again. In case you missed it the story this past weekend, the Irish Times  writes “Ryanair says it will press ahead with plans to charge passengers to use its aircraft’s toilets. Despite admitting its announcement last year that it might install coin-operated facilities was a publicity stunt, chief executive Michael O’Leary is now revisiting the issue, according to the airline.”

Ryanair’s plan? The Times says Europe’s largest low-cost carrier wants to remove the two rear lavatories, making room for six additional seats while leaving just one bathroom on its planes. The carrier would charge €1 or £1 – roughly $1.60 – to use the bathroom. The fee would apply only on flights of one hour or less, according to the Times. Ryanair told customers via its in-flight magazine that coin-operated toilets would be “a cost-saving proposal” that could help cut fares by up to 5%. 

Ryanair’s outspoken O’Leary made waves when he first broached the idea last year, though he later admitted it was a good way to generate “cheap PR.” However, the carrier says it’s taking a more serious look this time around. “The funny thing about Michael is that he’ll say these things as an off-the-cuff remark, and then he’ll start to think about it more and more ..,” Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara tells the Times. 

Still, experts are skeptical. While Ryanair apparently has talked to Boeing about re-fitting 50 of Ryanair’s Boeing 737 jets with the one-bathroom layout, one unnamed industry expert tells the Times that doing so could prove costly and could run into safety certification issues. Additionally, if the changes were made, Ryanair may have trouble selling its one-bathroom jets once it was time to retire them from its fleet. 

For Original article follow the below link:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=16016.blog

Tags: airline safety, avaition news, Boeing 737, jets, Ryanair