On the bus back to Calgary, I was chatting with an Irishmen named Hugh Mullen about Ryan Air, the low-cost airline and Irish success story. Hugh told me that Ryan Air CEO Michael O’Leary is floating a plan to enable airplane seatbacks with video gambling terminals. Apparently they may render the already absurdly cheap flights absolutely free.
Within four to five years the success of in-flight gaming and services such as insurance and car hire could make flights free. “Entertainment is where the real money will be made in future.” If anyone got round to paying passengers to travel “we will pay them more”. He dismissed suggestions that the free ticket moves would further anger environmentalists who want to see a carbon tax on aviation fuel. It was his job to “annoy the fuckers”.
Hilariously, Ryan Air would become less an airline and more a mobile casino provider.
DarrenBarefoot.com 