England's gold-standard holiday accommodation and attractions.
Ryanair encourages staff to lose weight
And the incentive is a starring role in its calendar!
Virginia Mayo_PA
Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, with the 2012 calendar
Is there any area Ryanair considers off-limits? The airline has already endeared itself to the public with such hot topics as whether or not overweight passengers need to pay more, considering whether it can ask its passengers to stand during flights in order to cram more on board and actually charging people £60 to print your boarding pass. Oh, and sorry, lest we forget, mooting the idea of charging people to use the loo by installing a coin-operated mechanism.
Most of these ideas seem to have been ploys for publicity but the latest statement from Stephen McNamara, a spokesperson for the airline, reveals that the airline cuts costs in many ways, one of which is reducing the amount of weight a plane carries, so that it uses less fuel.
Talking about one of the more inventive ways to lighten the load, McNamara told the Independent: "We... considered removing armrests but decided against it. We even encourage staff to watch their weight - with the motivation of appearing in the annual Ryanair calendar."
For most people, there are two major issues with this. First, the Ryanair calendar - which has already courted controversy for objectifying women - features only women. Where, then, is the incentive for male stewards? Or is the airline simply subscribing to the old 'trolly-dolly' ethos? Gone is the era when airlines' female cabin crew were expected to be as good at being eye candy as refreshing a drink.
Second is the equally weighty issue of dictating to staff about body size. Does the airline in fact have the right to do this?
Perhaps Ryanair would do better to focus on publicising other measures it has undertaken to cut costs, rather than such perceived gimmicks. For instance, it has made sizeable inroads into its printing costs by doubling up the in-flight magazine with the menu. This move alone has saved almost £400,000. There's something to celebrate - a policy that is both financially and environmentally friendly.
What do you think of the airline's policies?
Vote now
related stories on msn
39Comments
05/04/2012 16:36
05/04/2012 17:24
...More lunacy from the masters of comic aviation.
No, O'leary is not a genius, he is a lunatic and should be laughed at at every opportunity.
Remember this is the man who said that his 'planes should be flown by only one pilot because he no longer needed First Officers. He was being serious.
He is not a good publicist, he has only succeeded in making Ryanair the laughing stock of the aviation industry, and for that he deserves congratulations because flying with Ryanair is no laughing matter - it's the stuff of nightmares.
Some questions: Why is O'Leary wearing a pair of goggles in the picture? And what looks like a baggage label on his left hand? Goggles = weight loss, of course, now I get it. 
05/04/2012 15:48
Chris whilst I appreciate your view and to be fair can understand it, please remember that all cabin attendants also have to have the intelligence to pass exacting CAA exams at a minimum of 95% pass mark and have the gravitas to be able to control a difficult or potentially dangerous situation at 37,000feet, be able to provide comprehensive medical recovery expertise via challenging Av Med training and SEP training along with Human Factors training, sales training, customer service training, I could go on. After all that it's a surprise we have time to look good! Personally when I fly I want to know those in the cabin can take control and keep me safe. If they look too good I start to question their ability. I know we shouldn't judge by appearances but that's what you've done! Ex Cabin Crew
05/04/2012 18:31
05/04/2012 16:17
05/04/2012 16:25
05/04/2012 16:02
This is the most stupid thing I have ever heard asking people who work for an Airline to lose weight just so they can be in a Calendar and look better for the Airline!
If anyone is advised to lose weight it should be for there health reasons,not for the pathetic idea of being in a calendar or to make the Airline more attractive if you cannot attract people to your airline using normal methods then hard luck business is crap get over it!!
Why should people be used as 'Eye Candy' to attract potential customers
As I have said many times before there are other ways to get money for charities and it doesn't have to be women or men stripping for a cheap and tacky calendar!!
05/04/2012 17:21
This could be the start of something big. Pun intended. How long before an airline ticket carries a total weight allowance. By this I mean that there is an allowance that includes the person, hold luggage and hand luggage, so for example if this allowance was 110kg anyone weighing up to 85kg would be able to take 5kg hand luggage and 20kg hold luggage. If someone weighed 100kg then they could still take 10kg of luggage. Those weighing 110kg and over will have to pay extra for any luggage they want to take. As for those who weigh 60kg well then they can take 50kg of luggage, ha,ha.
05/04/2012 17:41
05/04/2012 19:41
Dear Ryanair,
How to cut costs even more:
1. Sack all the trolly-dollies.
2. Just have pilot & co-pilot.
3. Tell passengers not to eat 2 days in advance and get rid of toilet.
4. Get rid of all seating and overhead cupboards and tell passengers to sit on luggage.
5. Get rid of windows (saves money on cleaners.)
Hope this helps.
05/04/2012 18:25
05/04/2012 16:41
05/04/2012 19:07
05/04/2012 17:37
I have flown with ryanair several time's, as for what there staff look like i really could'nt care
less, as long as the plane take's off & land,s close to the time's printed on the ticket,s that
suit,s me just fine, if people can not be bothered to print there ticket off, and get charged £60
for the privilege that,s there problem.
05/04/2012 16:43
05/04/2012 15:16
05/04/2012 19:41
Chris my dear, I am not trying to hard, I'm just naturally switched on and quite a decent human being who talks a lot of sense ;). Hmm, you certainly sound like a British man and it woldn't surprise me if you were to be honest. By the way, stereotyping someone the way I did and assuming they are British isn't racist, you daft ringpiece. Bah, I'm leaving this malarky alone. You can sit at your PC and spread your fat hairy arse across the seat while typing up your little "shocking" comments on the internet to gain attention.
05/04/2012 17:14
Christ X is utterly hilarious. I say we let daft **** like that who brand any woman with an opinion "mental" or a "feminist" speak as much **** as they want. Makes fantastic humour and we all need a great laugh in this day and age :). Just for the record I also think the male calander idea is a daft idea also. Wow, that's me being a one-sided feminist with a moustache, ain't it?
To be honest, these kind of calanders DO make a tribute to a woman's mental state. Think how many young girls are making themselves puke and spraying themselves with nasty, orange tan to look like hideous chavettes The Saturdays and other such cheap and tacky creatures. I guess people cannot help being brainwashed into thinking that's attractive and any other type of image is hideous and ugly. I really think it's a shame and I can't understand how anyone could never sympathise with that type of thing.
British men, eh? Gotta love 'em in their checked shirts, clutching a copy of Zoo/Nuts while singing football songs. Silly little lads
To be honest, these kind of calanders DO make a tribute to a woman's mental state. Think how many young girls are making themselves puke and spraying themselves with nasty, orange tan to look like hideous chavettes The Saturdays and other such cheap and tacky creatures. I guess people cannot help being brainwashed into thinking that's attractive and any other type of image is hideous and ugly. I really think it's a shame and I can't understand how anyone could never sympathise with that type of thing.
British men, eh? Gotta love 'em in their checked shirts, clutching a copy of Zoo/Nuts while singing football songs. Silly little lads
05/04/2012 19:05
i except human beings as they are human beings, being your self is the best way to live.
Not this stupid attitude, is this really what we are now. From kings , leaders to a bunch of pancies.
dam you people are so easily pushed over, you would believe anything they tell you.
they worked you over big time. you.ll see in time.
Not this stupid attitude, is this really what we are now. From kings , leaders to a bunch of pancies.
dam you people are so easily pushed over, you would believe anything they tell you.
they worked you over big time. you.ll see in time.
Report
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
More on msn Travel
Ms Rotterdam in the Norwegian fjords.
Stuck for a present idea for the parents? A night on the British Pullman would hit the spot nicely.
TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice Awards are revealed - just as the holiday season kicks off...
We take a look at 16 of the beaches that made the cut.
Berlin, Germany.
See our pick of the best gardens in England, Wales and Scotland.
French artist Romain Jacquet-Lagreze has captured Hong Kong's famous skyscrapers from the ground floor.
We talk to the adventurer about his new Australia show and whether it is just "a patch of Blighty on the other side of the world".
Whether you're heading there for the film festival or a weekend break, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Take a look at some of the furry and scaly contenders for the photo contest
In pictures: visit the island where planes fly ridiculously low
