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An airline wants to make air travel free but there's a catch, obviously

We all know the saying, 'nothing is for free', so when Ryanair's boss said he hoped to make air travel free within 10 years we had to ask – what's the catch?

We all know the saying, ‘nothing is for free’, so when Ryanair’s boss said he hoped to make air travel free within 10 years we had to ask – what’s the catch?

 

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Michael O’Leary hyped up a whole lot of travellers this week when he said he hoped to one day offer holidaymakers $0 fares, The Sun reported.

Speaking at the Airport Operators Association Conference in London, the budget airline’s Chief Executive said free air travel could be made possible within the next decade if there’s a reduction in taxes such as air passenger duty.

“I have this vision that in the next five to 10 years that the air fares on Ryanair will be free, in which case the flights will be full.”

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair Chief Executive

How could an airline possibly survive without making money off of fares? What’s the catch?

O’Leary said carriers could stay afloat through sharing airport revenues, such as cash that comes in via people shopping at gateways and other retail revenues.

Sounds interesting. So all travellers would have to do in order to secure free flights is spend at the airport.

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Additionally, the CEO said travellers may still have to pay taxes in order to fly, which can vary depending on destination and duration of the flight.

While we patiently wait 10 years for free flights, O’Leary predicted that in the meantime air fares are likely to fall by around 15 percent in March next year.

“We are looking at a year where as far as we can see air fares will keep falling. We are looking at extraordinary fare declines.”

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair Chief Executive

So… do you think free flights are the future of air travel?