Ryanair was Europe’s original low fares airline and is still Europe’s largest low fares carrier with 15 European bases and a fleet of over 100 brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft and with firm orders for a further 138 new aircraft, which will be delivered over the next six years. In 2006 Ryanair adds more new aircraft to the fleet, to enable to carry 42 million passengers in the year. By 2012, they expect to have 225 aircraft allowing the airline to grow to 70m passengers per annum. In March they launched the Check’N’Go service, giving passengers the opportunity to check-in online across the entire route network, cutting queues at both check-in and boarding. May marks the launch of Ryanair’s 16 th and first French base in Marseille. They also announced the first routes outside of Europe, to Marrakesh, Fez and Oujda in Morocco.

But Ryanair development for 2006 doesn’t stop here. They came with another revolutionary passenger service initiative: a service that will allow its passengers to make calls on mobile phones and use handheld devices such as Blackberries whilst in flight.

The deal was signed up with Onair, a joint venture with SITA INC and Airbus that has the goal to meet the personal and business communications expectations of the travellers in aircraft cabin. They provide passengers with reliable, affordable communication services during flights, ranging from in-seat SMS using the airline’s onboard system, to mobile telephony and Internet access using passengers’ mobile and portable devices. The services are designed for short- and long-haul flights on both Airbus and Boeing aircraft, allowing airlines to offer a consistent onboard experience to their passengers.

The new deal between Ryanair and Onair will allow mobile use on all Ryanair Boeing 737 aircraft. Passengers will be charged a roaming fee by mobile service provider, with Ryanair taking a slice of the income.

This is only a proposal for this year but if it will be approved the scheme will be introduced by the middle of next year. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary advises that "We will soon enable passengers to use their mobile phones and electronic communications devices in the air, just as they do on the ground."