Ryanair pays passengers to fly

IT might sound like an airline boss with his head in the clouds but Ryanair chief executive, Michael O’Leary is now offering to pay passengers to fly with the no-frills airline.

The company yesterday announced that in addition to flying people for free, it would also pay €1 towards the cost of airport and government taxes.

“This is a first and is our costliest ever fare promotion,” said Mr O’Leary who described the offer as “a steal.”

Ryanair is offering free seats on flights from November 20 to December 20 inclusive, on routes serving Ireland and Britain. The company will contribute stg£1 towards the cost of taxes and charges at British airports.

The airline claims that one million free seats are available which apply to all routes and every day of the offer’s duration.

Earlier this year, Mr O’Leary predicted that half of all Ryanair's passengers will be flying free by the end of the decade as more revenue is generated by in-flight services. Booking for the latest free offer will close at midnight on November 20.

Meanwhile, Mr O’Leary also continued yesterday with his ever-increasing publicity campaign surrounding a crucial EU decision on Ryanair’s deal at Charleroi.

The Ryanair boss sought a meeting with the British transport minister, Alistair Darling as part of an attempt to get the support of European transport ministers, ahead of the European Commission’s ruling on whether the airline’s contract with Charleroi in Belgium breached EU competition laws.