Why haven't Ryanair thought of this?

[Plakian]

From www.cheapflights.co.uk

"China's first private airline, Spring Airlines, is pushing the concept of no-frills travel to the extreme, announcing plans to strip its aircraft of seats.

Spokesman Zhang Wuan unveiled the proposal yesterday, telling CCTV that standing-room-only cabins could accommodate up to 40 per cent more passengers.

The move follows comments by China's vice premier, Zhang Dejiang, who argued that citizens "should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus".

Spring Airlines, which currently has fleet of 13 aircraft, has been overwhelmed in recent months by burgeoning demand for its low-cost flights.

The carrier has already placed an order for 14 new jets, but as Mr Wuan explained: "The process of plane making is really long ... and it is also very expensive."

He said that in addition to boosting capacity, the airline's costs would be cut by 20 per cent if passenger seats were removed. Mr Wuan continued: "It's just like bar stools. The safety belt is the most important thing. It will still be fastened around the waist."

Senior officials in Beijing are believed to have floated the idea, with reports suggesting that influential vice premier Zhang Dejiang personally voiced his approval.

Summing up talks with Mr Dejiang, Spring Airlines president Wang Zhenghua told Ananova: "He suggested that, for a lower price, passengers should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus, with no seat, no luggage consignment, no food, no water – but very convenient."

In 2006, The New York Times reported that plane manufacturer Airbus has been "quietly pitching the standing-room-only option to Asian carriers". Its concept reportedly involved propping passengers against a padded backboard secured by a harness."

[aboriginalhostel]

Surely Ryanair will implement this in the future... if it works out without serious injuries!

Have Spring Airlines thought about the spacious wings on an airplane? It could double the passenger capacity or even more as the wing surfaces are usually bigger than the body of the plane. If someone falls during the way, why haven't they hang on by their fingernails???

They could also sell parachutes as an extra... also provides future stopovers without landing and taking off again, saving on airport taxes and fuel. Both parachutes and previous trainings are obligatory, use on your own responsibility and available for 1000 quid!

Another costsaver idea is to provide wingless aircrafts. If you want wings on the plane, please pay the surcharge!!! $$$

[Irishdon]

On the topic of cost-cutting, did you see that Ryanair is reducing the maximum size of hand luggage allowed and won't allow duty-free bags on board if customers already have other hand luggage!!!

[AndrewC]

Reminds me of an April Fools day joke Virgin Blue played a couple of years ago. They took out full page ads in the major Aussie daily papers to advertise their new 'No Chair Fare'.

From memory they had to come clean that they were joking mid-morning because the increased web traffic was too much for their servers.

[Irishdon]

Nice publicity stunt!