Quantcast

Ryanair's cost-cutting seat features explained

DOT probe seeks to determine if frequent flyer programs are fair to travelers
American Airlines flight diverted after passenger starts vaping
Russian Airline Wants $100 Million From Canada for Seizing Its Giant Cargo Plane
Here's where American Airlines is adding flights to Europe in summer 2025
Major airline grounds Airbus A350 fleet, citing faulty engine component
Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Regulator cuts Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate duration after probe
United Airlines flight attendants are prepared to strike. Here's why it's still unlikely.
2 workers killed, 1 injured in tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines shop in Atlanta
Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA
Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up
LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger clears Justice Department hurdle, now faces DOT
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
Ryanair's cost-cutting seat features explained
Policy
Webp received 9401777339881998
Neil Sorahan Ryanair's Group Chief Financial Officer | Ryanair Group

Ryanair, a pioneer of the ultra-low-cost airline model, focuses on reducing operational costs to offer significantly cheaper fares than full-service carriers. While low-cost carriers in the United States might provide tickets that are 10-20% less expensive than their full-service counterparts, Ryanair routinely offers prices at less than a third of those charged by network carriers.

The airline achieves this cost advantage through meticulous evaluation of each route and careful management of all operational elements. This approach has made Ryanair a model for others worldwide to replicate.

One well-known strategy is Ryanair's preference for smaller tertiary and secondary airports located far from city centers, which typically have lower operating costs. For instance, instead of using London City Airport (LCY) or London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Ryanair operates out of London Stansted Airport (STN).

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

There are also several less obvious methods Ryanair employs to reduce costs. The carrier makes bulk purchases to secure discounts and hires pilots and flight attendants early in their careers who command lower wages. Additionally, it limits passenger baggage by charging high fees for anything beyond a small personal item.

Within the aircraft cabins themselves, there are subtle features designed to cut costs:

1. **Non-reclining seats**: Ryanair's seats do not recline, which reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts.

2. **No seatback pockets**: Eliminating seatback pockets simplifies cleaning and lowers installation costs for new aircraft seats.

3. **Safety information on seats**: Instead of traditional leaflets, safety information is displayed directly on the back of seats, eliminating printing and replacement expenses.

4. **Fixed armrests**: Non-movable armrests reduce manufacturing costs and allow for maximum seating capacity within the aircraft.

5. **Non-adjustable headrests**: By removing adjustable headrests, Ryanair further cuts down on purchase and maintenance expenses.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

London Heathrow, recognized as Europe's busiest airport, will soon experience an increase in its flight offerings by Oman Air.

Sep 2, 2025

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport will commence safety and airfield improvement projects on Runway 12R-30L in two distinct phases throughout 2025.

Aug 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

In December 2022, Southwest Airlines faced a major crisis as operational challenges led to the cancellation of 16,900 flights, affecting nearly two million passengers during a peak travel period.

Apr 19, 2025

Harrison Ford, an acclaimed actor known for roles such as Han Solo in "Star Wars" and Indiana Jones, is also a noted aviation enthusiast.

Apr 19, 2025

Iberia Airlines has confirmed a notable shift in its flight schedule connecting Madrid and Dallas/Fort Worth, introducing its first overnight service from Europe to the US.

Apr 19, 2025