Ryanair plans seat-back advertising

Ryanair is to roll out seat-back advertising across its fleet claiming that it will lead to even cheaper tickets.

The low-cost airline has signed a deal with InviseoMedia, a tray-table manufacturer, to install tables with an integrated advertising panel.

Over the next two years, Ryanair’s fleet will be fitted with the Inviseo Table and the airline is confident it will prove popular among advertisers.

Peter Sherrard, Ryanair’s Head of Communications, said: “This product is great news for passengers who can expect even lower fares as advertisers all over Europe contribute to lowering the cost of flights in exchange for being able to promote their products on Ryanair’s seat backs.”

Advertisers will have access to around 42 million passengers a year. By 2012, Ryanair hopes to be carrying more than 70 million people.

Late last year Michael O'Leary, Ryanair’s Chief Executive, predicted that one day, onboard gambling, charging for in-flight mobile phone use and internet advertising deals would be generating sufficient revenue for the airline to offer "free" (customers pay the taxes and charges) tickets to passengers (see Ryanair gambles on free flights).

© Cheapflights Ltd Craig McGinty