Aircrafts Fuel Rationing
Ryanair is under accusation of aviation professionals, because of its practices of charging a minimum of kerosene on its aircrafts, the minimum required for the trip, in order to save costs. However, according to European standards of aviation safety, all passenger aircrafts must refuel enough to stay in the air between 30 and 45 minutes longer than required by their journey.
In August 2008, the Sunday Times revealed the contents of an internal report that Ryanair had sent in May to their pilots demanding a policy of reducing costs by rationing fuel reserves loaded. It reveals that Ryanair insisted that any request by a captain for extra fuel should be the “exception”. It referred to the 300kg maximum (this provides 4 minutes of extra stacking time for a Boeing 737). It is also confirmed that Ryanair had sent warning letters to pilots asking for more fuel without giving a reason, as a measure of pressure. Pilots claim such letters can be used in disciplinary proceedings. Pilots say Ryanair ranks them according to how much extra fuel they use. Evan Cullen, President of IALPA (Irish Air Line Pilots Association), said commercial pressure on pilots to pare down the fuel they carry was compromising safety.
The 1st of September 2008, SEPLA (Sindicato Espanol de Pilotos de Lineas Aereas), the main pilots’ union of our country, published a document called: “Cost Savings on an airplane? Ryanair achieves low fuel rationing”. On 28 September, SEPLA sent to the Ministry of Development a joint complaint signed by the major employers in the sector of aviation (ASETMA, CTA, SITCPLA, STAVLA, USO-STA). It is an eight-page document that presents a list of alleged irregularities that Ryanair would be making in Spain, thus incurring in unfair competition. The letter, which was also sent to regional governments and the Court of Competition, mentioned the system created by Ryanair to avoid using all the fuel against the European directive.
[...] cost-saving practices. According to several allegations by Spanish aviation professionals, Ryanair commonly refuels its aircrafts with the minimum amount of kerosene needed. Ryanair, by reducing its carried amount of fuel, spends less money and reduces its consumption. [...]
The letter from Spanish unions is also available in English: http://www.scribd.com/doc/22704829/ryanair-spain-unions-EN-SP
I know its not a nice thing to say but I’m really looking forward to the day that ryanair cause a huge disaster through cost savings and Mick is held responsible, jailing the smug git.
I hope that day you are flying on it.
It’s more than a little bith sick to wish the deaths of hundreds of people just to so O’Leary will be upset.
It would also be interesting To see a comparison od incidents between low cost and traditional airlines.
In my experience low cost usually have newer planes
O’ Leary will get caught with his pants down oneday. As for the fuel thing, it is a MANDATORY requirement that all passenger aircraft carry enough fuel to reach their destination, PLUS any diversion airport, PLUS 15%. Technically there is no way around and it is drummed into all pilots undergoing ATP and CPL training. This is a safety issue. As for the average age of fleets, it really doesn’t matter, its how the aircraft are maintained that matters. I’d much rather fly on an old well maintained aircraft than a new badly maintained aircraft as with Ryanair’s aircraft.
the guy Kimmy is absolutely right.after a terrible delay with Easy jet Istarted surfiing today all about easy jet and then low cost companies.Well I can tell you only this: I definitely dont get ever an Easy Jet due to its rudeness of its staff and definitely not Ryan air after having read this article today about the fuel rationing..Jesus..no court has still made a prosecution against Ryanair?unbelieveable…
Spy
Easyjet is all about their rudeness and their delays..