Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary is considering plans for passengers to stand during flights so more people can be squeezed onboard.

O’Leary said he is in talks with Boeing about designing an aircraft with standing room. Standing ticket holders would perch on bar-style stools with seatbelts around their waists. Ryanair estimates it would be able to pack in 50 percent more passengers whilst cutting costs by 20 percent. If given the go-ahead by the Irish Aviation Authority, the airline plans to order a new fleet of jets.

China’s Spring Airlines first initiated the standing ticket idea earlier this year. The airline has been trying to cope with surging passenger numbers and new flight routes, but only has 13 planes.

The announcement from Ryanair follows a series of new cost-cutting measures it plans to roll out including making passengers carry all their own luggage up to planes, and charging £ 1 to use the toilet.
——-