Ryanair unveils new 'game-changer' seats – but why won't it give us pockets?

Ryanair has unveiled designs for the seating on its new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 200.

The upgraded perches are slimmer than what’s currently found in the budget carrier’s cabin, meaning that, although each aircraft will contain more seats - 197, rather than 189 - each offers, mercifully, more legroom. Ryanair claims passengers will have 31 inches in which to stretch their limbs, up from 30.

But one thing is still missing: somewhere to put your belongings.

One of the most curious aspects of flying with Ryanair is the lack of seat-back pockets. Passengers must cling on to their novel, passport, iPad, or - dare we say it - copy of The Telegraph and complimentary bottle of Buxton mineral water. After take-off, one can pop them on the tray table, or you could store your possessions in a small bag beside your feet – but it’s not exactly convenient. We take the seat-back pocket for granted – you only miss it when it’s not there.

So why won’t Ryanair’s new “ergonomic slimline seats”, designed by manufacturer Zodiac for its “gamechanger” 737 MAX, the first of which will be delivered in 2019, feature one?

It’s all down to speedy turnarounds, says Ryanair. Having the pockets gives cabin crew something to check and clean, which takes up precious time.

“Since 2004 Ryanair seats have not included seat-back pockets, allowing us to maintain our industry-leading 25-minute turnaround, and reduce cleaning costs,” said a spokesperson. “Adding seat pockets to our seats is not something we are asked for by our customers.”

Another factor could well be weight. The heavier the plane, the more fuel it burns – and fuel is the single biggest cost for all airlines. Two square feet of soft material hardly tips the scales, but it all adds up.  

Ryanair, back in 2012, cut the size of its in-flight magazine, publishing it on A5 instead of A4 paper, a move it said would reduce its fuel bill by thousands of pounds. 

“We also considered removing armrests, but decided against it,” a spokesman for Ryanair said at the time. “We even encourage staff to watch their weight – with the motivation of appearing in the annual Ryanair calendar.”

In the 1980s, Robert Crandall, then the chief executive of American Airlines, claimed the carrier had made annual savings of $40,000 by removing one olive from every salad served on board its flights.

There’s little doubt that the 737 MAX will improve the experience of flying with Ryanair. Modern aircraft are quieter, cleaner and more fuel efficient (so, one must assume, lend themselves to cheaper fares). Ryanair’s fleet is already among the youngest in the world, but this will bring that average age down further. 

It also promises bigger overhead bins, which will be brilliant news if it means there’s room for every passenger’s carry-on luggage (we’re not holding our breath).

The extra inch of legroom will be welcomed too. Some of the new Lufthansa and British Airways aircraft will offer just 29 inches, so it is nice to see some airlines moving in the opposite direction.

But is a seat-back pocket really too much to ask?