Ryanair, the low-cost carrier, turned no-frills air travel into an art form. The indignities are many — paying extra for everything from hold luggage or having to use a toilet slightly smaller than the average coffin. But passengers couldn’t complain about the base price.
But according to Michael O’Leary, the airline’s charismatic chief executive, the era of the trademark €1 or €10 ticket is over. Due to the rising cost of jet fuel, Ryanair’s average fare is set to rise over the next five years by as much as 25 per cent. Of course the cost of flying has fallen significantly since the dawn of the jet age, but with it the sector’s carbon emissions have risen dramatically. Indeed, if aviation were a nation, it would rank among the top 10 emitters — ahead of the UK.
