Ryanair plan to charge for using loo on planes

You already pay for your sarnies and drinks on budget airlines.

But Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has gone further and suggested he may charge you for using the LOO.

He told BBC Breakfast yesterday: "One thing we have looked at is the possibility of putting a coin slot on the toilet door so people might have to spend a pound to spend a penny."

Presenter Charlie Stayt then asked: "If you haven't got any cash what you do?"

O'Leary replied: "I don't think anybody has got on a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound. What do you do in Liverpool Street station?

You have got to pay."

But hang fire before you start rooting out your loose change - one of O'Leary's own staff has suggested he was "just taking the p***".

Spokesman Stephen McNamara said: "Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along. While this has been discussed there are no immediate plans to introduce it.

However, this highlights Ryanair's obsession with lowering costs. Ancillary revenues help to reduce the cost of flying and passengers using train and bus stations are already paying to use the toilet, so why not on planes?

"Then again, maybe O'Leary was just taking the p*** this morning."

Earlier this month the firm confirmed passengers will be charged £30 if they cannot fit their duty-free into their single piece of hand luggage.

Last week, it announced it was to shut all airport checkin desks and have passengers check in online. Other costcutting measures include sick bags only on request and no reclining seats or blinds.

The latest idea comes after figures revealed Ryanair made a loss of £108million in just three months last year.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said there was no legal obligation for airlines to provide toilets, adding: "It's up to Ryanair if they want to charge."