Budget airline, Ryanair, is to begin offering a new category of travel class on its fleet of aircraft, which promises to be even cheaper than its current economy flights. The Super Cheap, Under Maintained (Scum) class will offer a 45% discount over the standard ticket cost, although the airline does warn that some of the ‘frills’ will be unavailable as a result. There will be an equal split of standard economy tickets and scum tickets, but only the back quarter of the plane will be designated to scum passengers, so they will be sacrificing space somewhat. In order to squeeze the people in, it will be standing room only in this section of the aircraft, with handle bars on the ceiling for support. To drive the cost down further, the carpet has been removed in favour of straw and access to and from the plane will be via a wooden ladder.

Boss of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary has hailed the changes as ground breaking and has claimed that passengers will be thrilled at being offered the chance to fly at even cheaper rates. In a press conference, he made the following statement, ‘Passengers have long endured the high cost of air travel, but they are no longer forced to stump up for the cost of over indulgent luxuries such as seats and space.’

But critics have warned that this may be a step too far for some Ryanair customers and it could be over sacrificing on comfort and customer service in favour of lower prices. One time Ryanair passenger, Tony Wilson had a conflicting view to that of O’Leary, ‘I flew Ryanair to Malaga three weeks ago and I can honestly say, that I enjoyed my three years in Guantanamo Bay more than I did that two hour flight. The electric probes and water boarding would have been a blessed relief from the miserable conditions aboard that plane.’

Quite how Mr Wilson would rate scum class is another thing altogether, but O’Leary has dismissed the naysayers and is pushing ahead regardless.