• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Humor » A Cost-Cutting Proposal from a Ryanair Pilot
HumorRyanair

A Cost-Cutting Proposal from a Ryanair Pilot

Matthew Klint Posted onSeptember 15, 2010 Leave a Comment

Just days after Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary suggested that co-pilots should be replaced with trained FAs, Ryanair Captain Morgan Fischer proposed this cost-cutting measure for the budget airline:

“I would propose that Ryanair replace the CEO with a probationary cabin crew member currently earning approximately €13,200 net per annum,” Capt Fischer has written in a letter to the Financial Times, which reported Mr O’Leary’s comments last week.

“Ryanair would benefit by saving millions of euros in salary, benefits and stock options,” the captain said, and there would be no need for approval from the authorities.

A Ryanair spokesperson genially responded:

“Michael thinks that cabin crew would make a far more attractive CEO than him – this obviously isn’t a very high bar – so we are going to seriously look at the suggestion,” said Stephen McNamara, a Ryan­air spokesman. “After all, if we can train cabin crew to land the plane, it should be no problem training them to do Michael’s job as well.”

Jesting aside, what do you value more: cheap airfare or a relatively safer experience? While I certainly don’t think co-pilots have become "navigators" (i.e. dinosaurs), O’Leary at least gives us something to think about in justifying the proposed pilot cutback. In 25 years, Ryanair has had only one pilot who suffered a heart attack in flight, and he still landed the plane.

Traditions should not necessarily be perpetuated merely because they are traditions, but there’s something very psychologically comforting about having a back-up pilot onboard, even if computers do much of the flying today. I’m willing to pay more for each flight for that incremental boost in safety. I will say this, however: if Ryanair does eliminate the co-pilot position (highly unlikely to be approved by EU regulators and perhaps not even a realistic proposal from publicity-hungry O’Leary), I would still fly them.

(Tip of the hat to John)

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article China Airlines to Join SkyTeam
Next Article American Airlines and Lufthansa Celebrate Oktoberfest

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Newark Airport Lunch

    This Meal Just Cost Me $28 At Newark Airport. This Is Why Americans Think The Economy Is Terrible.

    May 17, 2025
  • Slippers Airport

    My Accidental Footwear Fail At LAX

    May 12, 2025
  • a woman in a beige coat

    “It’s A Boy And We’re Naming Him Ryan” – Woman Fakes Pregnancy To Avoid Baggage Fees On Ryanair

    April 21, 2025

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines sourdough chili
    Beef Chili In A Sourdough Bowl: United Airlines Business Class (+ A Funny Story) June 13, 2025
  • Cockroach Lady Milan Airport
    “Cockroach Lady” Melts Down at Milan Airport Over Carry-On Bag Size June 13, 2025
  • a row of seats in an airplane
    Flight Attendant Defends Removal of Blogger From American Airlines Flight, But Blogger Pushes Back June 13, 2025
  • airplanes at an airport
    Delta And United Flights To Israel Turn Back Mid-Air After Israeli Strike On Iran June 13, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025
  • a group of people in blue uniforms
    United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter May 28, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.