Ryanair has come under fire from watchdogs after charging customers an extra £10 to sit by the emergency exit.
The low-fare airline, known for its hidden charges and extra fees, is under investigation for refusing to let passengers sit by the emergency exits unless they pay £10.
Passengers who sit in the surrounding rows are expected to follow directions on how to open the doors during an emergency.
As a result, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is investigating concerns over the responsibilities on passengers who are not allowed to sit in these seats during the flight. The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) has also raised its concerns over the safety implications.
The majority of flights on the budget airline have empty exit-row seats as passengers are unwilling to pay the extra funds for a few extra inches of legroom.
This results in hundreds of flights where the emergency exit rows are empty. Ryanair’s policy means that the first four rows and the emergency rows in the middle will cost passengers extra.
However, this is not regarded as an “issue” for Ryanair as Stephen McNamara, Head of Communications at the low-cost airline, said: “We do not believe this to be an issue as all Ryanair passengers are provided with the same safety and evacuation information. We will continue to discuss the matter with the IAA.”
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