When I first saw this, I thought, “Am I reading this right?” Unless Reuters is now printing fabrications or I’ve developed severe perceptual difficulties, it seems that Ireland’s Ryanair is thinking seriously about offering free airfare to everyone:
Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by market value, believes revenue from inflight gaming and gambling could eventually do away with the need to charge air fares, Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said on Wednesday.
Ryanair gave away about a quarter of its seats last year and that figure could rise to between 50 and 100 percent depending on how ancillary revenues grow, O’Leary said.
“Ultimately entertainment will be where the money is,” he told reporters, while answering questions about his plans to introduce gaming and gambling onboard, probably in 2007.
“It would transform ancillary revenues and profits,” he said. “We’ll probably announce a gambling partner (company) in the next 2-3 months.”
Besides plans for inflight gaming and gambling, the airline already generates ancillary income from services such as hotel bookings and car leasing.
Now, if some American domestic carriers would start ponying up free tickets, things would be really good.
Speaking of travel, I’m off to Portland and the Social Science History Association conference tomorrow, so don’t expect much in the way of posting for the rest of the week.