European low-cost carrier Ryanair often gets a bad rap from passengers who have had a less
positive experience with the airline. While it is true that things can go wrong from time to time,
the majority of experiences with Ryanair are uneventful-
in a good way. Here are 7 reasons why flying Ryanair isn't as bad as you may think.
1. It's cheap and (mostly) cheerful
Ryanair’s fares are among the cheapest you'll see anywhere across the aviation industry.
While the days of its £1 fare are over, it is still possible to fly one way for as little as £8.
While fares typically ramp up nearer the travel date,
it is often possible to book flights for half that of competing "full service" carriers.
This has opened the door of travel to many who might struggle to afford it otherwise.
2. You pay for what you want
As a no-frills airline, Ryanair will lack some
amenities traditionally offered on full-service carriers.
Not including these frills in the ticket price means that passengers wishing to use
them have to pay extra. Related to our first point, this allows passengers to save money.
Don't want a checked bag? You don't have to pay for one in your ticket price.
3. It's (almost) always an option
Ryanair’s focus on point-to-point operations means
that it has many smaller bases across Europe, serving more than 230 airports.
This means that if your local airport doesn't have a Ryanair service, one nearby likely will.
4. The legroom isn't bad
Many will claim the legroom in Intra-European economy cabins is less than ideal. Ryanair crams
189 seats on its Boeing 737-800s, with an extra eight seats found on each of its 737 MAX jets.
However, each aircraft features ample leg-room- even for those over 6 feet tall
5. You'll get to your destination on time
Ryanair is keen to let you know if you arrived at your destination before the expected arrival time,
and you are likely to hear their famous trumpet soundtrack on a Ryanair flight.
The airline operated 837,703 flights in 2019, with 92% arriving on time.
In 2021, 96% of the airline's 339,858 flights arrived on time.
6. Ryanair's fleet is young and green
The airline's average fleet age is 9.1 years,
and with the arrival of 210 brand new Boeing 737 MAXs, this is set to get even more youthful.
Newer and more efficient jets are beneficial for passengers.
Airlines have lower overhead costs, meaning that ticket prices for passengers can be lower.
It also means that passengers are responsible for fewer emissions.
By using newer planes with more passengers, Ryanair can cut emissions per passenger. With
a high load factor, emissions get smaller by splitting it between more passengers.
Ryanair also aims to be 100% single-use plastic-free by 2025
and to use 12.5% sustainable fuel in its operations by 2030. Also, by 2030, the airline
wishes to cut its per passenger per kilometer CO2 emissions to less than 60g, a 10% reduction.
7. Ryanair has a high level of safety
Ryanair is well-aware that safety is one area where you can't avoid spending money.
According to the ASN Aviation Safety Database,
Ryanair has never had a fatal accident or incident and only has a single hull loss on record.
Have you flown with Ryanair? How did you find the experience?
Let us know what you think and why in the comments!