Aviation

Why do Ryanair seats have NO back pockets? Ryanair has uncovered the design of its ‘game changing’ new seats

Ryanair has unveiled the design of its ‘game changing’ new seats which will benefit passengers.

But the budget Irish airline still won’t use back pockets.

The new seats will give customers 31 inches of legroom, one inch more than the current design.

They will also be lighter and will enable the aircraft to fit 197 seats on board instead of 189.

This means fares will be lower for passengers, according to the airline.

The seats will be installed on Ryanair’s new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 200, due to be delivered in spring 2019.

But as is the case with the current seats, there won’t be any back pockets on the new design.

Ryanair hasn’t used back pockets on its seats in over a decade. The airline says this enables a quicker turnaround time by reducing the amount of items to be cleaned and checked.

A spokesperson said: “Ryanair’s current fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft have a seat pitch of 30 inches – more legroom than British Airways and Lufthansa economy seats.

“All Boeing 737 Max ‘Gamechanger’ aircraft, delivered from Spring 2019 onwards, will have the new Zodiac seats announced on Wednesday, with a roomier 31 inch seat pitch, and due to the new sculpted seat back, also provide additional knee and shin room at the same pitch.

“Since 2004, Ryanair seats have not included seat back pockets, allowing us to maintain our industry-leading 25 minute turnaround, and reduce cleaning costs – which are passed on to customers through lower fares.

“Adding seat pockets to our seats is not something we are asked for by our customers.”

The airline also considered removing armrests when it reduced the size of its in-flight magazine back in 2012, but “decided against it”.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly