Source: The Sun
Author: Alex Peake

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary wants passengers to STAND on the budget airline’s flights — in a bid to pack in more people and boost profits.

Passengers would pay less to huddle next to what have been described as “bar stools”, with seatbelts around their waists.

O’Leary has already held talks with US plane manufacturer Boeing about designing a jet with standing room.

He is now hoping to get the go-ahead from the Irish Aviation Authority before ordering a new fleet. A Ryanair spokesman said: “If they approve it, we’ll be doing it.”

O’Leary got the idea from Chinese airline Spring, which put forward similar plans — estimating they could pack in up to 50 per cent more passengers and slash costs by 20 per cent.

The controversial Ryanair boss is always looking for ways of saving money.

Earlier this year he announced that he intended to charge passengers a pound to spend a penny on board.

He also unveiled plans for planes with just one toilet instead of three, which he said would allow six extra seats to be crammed in.

And when he talked about launching an intercontinental service, he joked about offering free beds and sex acts.

There was more outrage when O’Leary considered introducing a “fat tax” for overweight passengers.