Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 low fares airline today (Tuesday, 21st September 2004) announced its intention to introduce inflight entertainment (IFE) on all its flights, with the acquisition – subject to board approval – of the APS inflight entertainment system, which will be trialled initially on five Stansted based aircraft from 1 November, and if successful will gradually be rolled out across our entire Boeing 737-800 fleet over the Winter, making IFE available to all passengers, on all aircraft in the Ryanair fleet from March next.
The APS portable video technology is one of the most advanced and easy to use entertainment systems in the world. The Ryanair inflight video system will offer Ryanair customers the latest Hollywood movies, up to date chart videos, cartoons, comedy classics, sitcoms and audio cd’s at a special introductory offer price of £5 or €7 per flight.
Rolling out the Ryanair inflight video system in London this morning, Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary said:
“Ryanair is delighted to be the first low fares airline in the world and the first shorthaul airline in Europe to offer all our customers the latest Hollywood movies on our inflight video system. This new technology will allow Ryanair’s passengers to enjoy the latest in inflight entertainment, which will further enhance Ryanair’s No.1 customer service package.
Nobody beats Ryanair’s customer service, which includes;
The lowest air fares in Europe.
Brand new aircraft.
All leather seats.
New technology inflight entertainment
No.1 on-time major airline.
Fewest cancellations.
Fewest lost bags.
Fewest complaints.
“From November onwards in-flight movies won’t be confined to rich people travelling in business class on long-haul flights. Now the latest Hollywood movies, music videos etc. will be available to all Ryanair passengers who will continue to enjoy the lowest air fares in Europe together with the best customer service.
“Nobody beats Ryanair’s low prices, nobody beats our punctuality and now nobody beats our inflight entertainment either!”
RYANAIR MOVIE SELECTION NOVEMBER 2004
Movie Genre
I, Robot Action/Sci-Fi
Dodgeball Comedy
Garfield Animation/Family
The Day After Tomorrow Action/Adventure
Man on Fire Thriller/Drama
The Girl Next Door Romantic Comedy
Cheaper by the Dozen Comedy
Master & Commander Action/Drama
Stuck on You Comedy
Runaway Jury Thriller/Drama
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Sci-Fi/Adventure
X-Men 2 Action/Sci-Fi
Shrek 2 Comedy
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Animation/Family
A Cinderella Story Romantic Comedy
Scooby-Doo 2 Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Ryanair TV
Friends, Dads Army, One Foot in the Grave, Only Fools and Horses, Teletubbies, The Simpsons, Dharma & Greg, The X-Files, Lizzie McGuire
Ryanair Cartoons
Batman Beyond, Scooby-Doo, Dexter, Powerpuff Girls, Baby Looney Tunes
Ryanair music videos: Include the latest chart toppers
Ryanair audio: Includes Jazz, Country, Chart, Rock & Oldies
By: Pablo - 23rd September 2004 at 23:47
Surely the implications of easyJet removing the restriction on the weight of cabin baggage could have a greater impact on fuel burn than this?! 🙂
By: andrewm - 22nd September 2004 at 23:57
Sounds like they will be more prone to droppage and breakage if you balance it on your knee. Knowing Ryanair if you drop it a bill for a 737-800 (with extra features) comes through your letter box.
Also they will no doubt hand these out when cabin crew are released which can be around 10minutes after takeoff some times and 10-15mins before landing cabin crew stow everything away. This mean you need to fly to such destinations as anything in souther spain, frane or Scandinavia to get use out of the time you have.
By: martin_EGTK - 22nd September 2004 at 21:16
The IFE isn’t going to be seat back fitted or drop down screens. Each aircraft is initially going to have 24 laptop style units which can be handed out around the cabin, more will be brought in if needed. So the weight implications are minimal.
Personally I would have probably have used this prior to buying a portable DVD player. When I flew with Ryanair to Rome last year I would imagine the flight would have passed a lot quicker with the IFE.
By: andrewm - 22nd September 2004 at 20:07
Also remember he removed the window blinds which would probably account for some 60% odd percent of the weight of an IFE in each seat.
Or will it be drop down from ceiling TFTs?
By: Ren Frew - 22nd September 2004 at 18:29
Shouldn’t matter too much; the B7378 is already “horridly underpowered” :diablo:
I jest as usual… 😎
The engines are downrated to about 80% or so aren’t they?
By: danairboy - 22nd September 2004 at 18:21
Id rather read a newspaper or look out the windown for half an hour than bolster Ryanairs profits paying out to watch half hour of a repeated sitcom, we will have no doubt seen a thousand times before.
Also, as someone else said, they will no doubt charge for headphones. Suprised ‘that man’ hasnt though of the extra weight all this IFE will cause.
By: Ren Frew - 22nd September 2004 at 18:06
How does this work on the Dublin-Glasgow Prestwick route and all the other Dublin-UK routs?
Exactly the same as elsewhere, you pay the money and watch the telly. A half hour episode of a sitcom should be just about watchable if you want to see it.
Personally for those lengths of flights I rarther watch live News24 or something similar.
By: GLAsgow - 22nd September 2004 at 17:48
How does this work on the Dublin-Glasgow Prestwick route and all the other Dublin-UK routs?
By: skycruiser - 22nd September 2004 at 17:43
what about the extra cost of fuel. With the weight if the IFE on board the fuel burn will increase.
By: Pablo - 22nd September 2004 at 15:54
I assume the £5 doesn’t include the cost of the headphones, which will be another £2-3.
By: seahawk - 22nd September 2004 at 15:25
On the other hand Ryanair is thinking about charging extra money if you want more the your habd luggage carried. (according to the german newspapaer Aero International)
The IFE is a joke. How many routes do they operate that would offer 90 minutes fo cruise time ??
By: bmi-star - 21st September 2004 at 22:27
Germanwings has IFE! THo i never got to taste it in July as i got a A320 (IFE on A319’s only) and an ex-Lufty A319 which had been delivered weeks before D-AILL;)
By: danairboy - 21st September 2004 at 20:58
I doubt that. They still have to pay for it and on such short sectors I cant see people flying them just to watch a re-run of Dads Army!
A free sarnie or a brekkie might woo them though, well it would me.
By: EAL_KING - 21st September 2004 at 19:18
they are not the first low cost carrier in the world with ife song in usa have them and i think jetblue have them??
By: MANAIRPORTMAD - 21st September 2004 at 18:20
Good move ryanair! It seems they cant do anything without getting loads of bad comments on them, so i say good one ryanair!!
By: LBARULES - 21st September 2004 at 17:46
What about the 2 hour flights to Italy and Spain? You would be able to view plenty then. As I said before, think it is a good idea, the fares are still very low and if you want entertainment (Not that I do), you can have it!
By: kev35 - 21st September 2004 at 17:15
I thought O’leary was going to show porn for those who wanted it! Thats what he said. As he realised that such a move could lead to stained seat covers.
Why? Might people spill their drinks?
Regards,
kev35
By: danairboy - 21st September 2004 at 16:59
I thought O’leary was going to show porn for those who wanted it! Thats what he said. As he realised that such a move could lead to stained seat covers.
By: danairboy - 21st September 2004 at 16:57
Another ruse for the airline to make money from its passengers! The only thing you have time to view on most of their flights would be a Loony Tune.
I dont suppose they will be showing Watchdog!
By: 4 engines good - 21st September 2004 at 16:22
Michael O’Leary = the Comical Ali of the airline world 😀
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September 21, 2004 at 1:54 pm