O'Leary Suggests Co-Pilots 'Unnecessary'

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary's cost saving attempts continue to attract controversy with suggestions today that co-pilots could be removed from the cockpit.

Mr O'Leary's latest notion on how the no frills flier could cut costs has attracted consternation from pilot's unions who have accused him of making "a bid for publicity". "His suggestion is unsafe and his passengers would be horrified," a spokesman for the British Pilots Association said.

The Ryanair boss said he intends to write to aviation authorities for permission to use only one pilot per flight because he believes co-pilots are unnecessary in modern jets.

Mr O'Leary, who has been known to provoke controversy with unusual ideas in the past, previously considering standing tickets on flights as well as charging for the use of toilets.

He conceded that two pilots would be needed on long-haul flights, but said on shorter trips flight attendants could do the job as “the computer does most of the flying now”.

In an interview with a British newspaper yesterday he said the second pilot was only there to "make sure the first fella doesn't fall asleep and knock over one of the computer controls".

Speaking to the Financial Times, Mr O'Leary said: “In 25 years with over about 10m flights, we’ve had one pilot who suffered a heart attack in flight and he landed the plane."

His comments come as the Dublin-based airline prepares to pay a €500m (£414m) dividend next month – its first – after Mr O’Leary pulled out of a deal to buy 200 Boeing jets late last year.

(DW/KMcA)