While there might be no such thing as a free lunch, soon there could be free flights. Yes, you read that right. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s outspoken Chief Executive, has confirmed that many seats on the budget airline’s flights could be free in the next decade.
‘The challenge for us in the future is to keep driving air fares down. I have this vision that in the next five to 10 years that the air fares on Ryanair will be free,’ O’Leary told an audience at the Airport Operators Association conference in London.
It sounds too good to be true, but his reasoning does make sense. O’Leary explained that the reduction or abolition of APD (airport departure tax) combined with the attractive deals being offered by airports would allow his business to offer zero-cost flights.
Currently we pay APD on every flight we take, but the government called to cut APD by 50% in its Autumn statement. This will, of course, bring down the cost of flights, but the new system O’Leary is suggesting where the airline and airport share revenues is what will really slash prices. Ryanair will therefore make their money from the cash you splash at the airport as opposed to the fare you pay to fly.
While it’s unclear when these cut-price fares will roll out, O’Leary is confident in his new business plan.
‘I think it will happen. It just won’t happen at Heathrow or those big hub airports. But most of the other airports who are looking for big traffic growth, that process is already starting to happen, lowering airport fees and some of the charges,’ he concluded.
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