China’s budget airline (the country’s first LCC to be more specific) is apparently looking to make flying even cheaper, by scrapping some seats on aircraft.
According to Market Watch, Spring Airlines is considering applying for approval to have passengers stand during flights in order to lower the cost of airfares.
A similar move was attempted by Ireland’s infamous budget carrier, Ryanair back in 2012. The airline’s boss Michael O’Leary was looking to create ‘standing room only’ cabins for students and budget travellers, which he would sell for only £1 to European destinations.
China’s first low-cost carrier is looking to offer passengers standing tickets in exchange for cheaper fares.
At the time, O’Leary was looking to remove the back ten rows of aircraft to allow travellers to commute on their feet. During landing he suggested it would be ‘fine’ for passengers to ‘hold on to a handle’.
“If you say to passengers it’s £25 for the seat and £1 for the standing cabin, I guarantee we will sell the standing cabin first. You should be able to choose from a safety perspective.”
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair chief executive said back in 2012
At the time, he also said legislation forcing passengers to wear seatbelts are useless and ‘plonkers’. He was also looking to charge passengers to use toilets.
While Ryanair was the first to go public with the standing fares, it was actually Spring Airlines’ chairman Wang Zhenghua that first suggested it at an annual Chinese New Year holiday back in 2008.
Ryanair’s boss was looking to introduce a similar cheap fare standing alternative three years ago.
According to the new source, the idea came after seeing travellers struggle to book rail and air tickets during major holidays.
A spokesperson said if authorities would approve standing fares, the carrier would look into offering the service.
“We need many other conditions to make it work, like working together with airplane manufacturers, getting the approval from the authorities and having the consumers accept the idea. But if they approve it, Spring Airlines will offer the service.”
Spring Airlines spokesperson