RyanAir is in a lot of businesses, but they are definitely not in the airline business.  The airplanes they fly are simply the delivery mechanism for a lot of other services.  And since the airplane is the method of delivery, RyanAir has done everything they can possible do to reduce their per-plane cost. For example, they have

  • Maximized seat density, making it impossible for anyone with an inseam greater than 32″ to slouch in the seat.
  • Eliminated the removable safety-instructions card and replaced them with laminated labels on each seatback.
  • Eliminated the seat-back pockets so passengers won’t put trash in them, thus reducing the time to clean a plane.
  • Boarded and deplaned from both the front and the rear of the plane, thus reducing the airport turnaround time to about 25 minutes.
  • Standardized on a single style plane, the Boeing 737-800, to reduce pilot and crew costs.
  • Arranged for landing rights and terminal gates in the lowest-cost locations in Europe.

You may be asking, “If RyanAir’s not in the airline business, then what business are they in?”  Well, here’s a hint… (more…)

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