LOW COST airline Ryanair has been lambasted for a suggestion that it might start charging for using the toilet on board flights.

The budget carrier's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary raised the possibility during BBC TV interview.

"One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door so that people might actually have to spend a pound ($1.43) to spend a penny in future," he said.

This would not inconvenience passengers travelling without cash, he claimed

"I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."

Ryanair last week said it was to shut all check-in desks at airports and have passengers check in online instead as part of ongoing cuts to customer services.

It is also to increase ancillary revenue by through an in-flight mobile phone service.

But Rochelle Turner, Head of Research at Which? Holiday, said: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.

"Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though - that would serve Ryanair right."

Stephen McNamara, Ryanair, said: "Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and while this has been discussed internally there are no immediate plans to introduce it."

"However, this highlights Ryanair's continuing obsession with lowering costs and passing these savings on in the form of lower fares, which currently average just €34.

Ancillary revenues, all of which are avoidable, help to reduce the cost of flying Ryanair and passengers using train and bus stations are already accustomed to paying to use the toilet so why not on airplanes?

"Not everyone uses the toilet on board one of our flights but those that do could help to reduce airfares for all passengers.

"Then again, maybe O'Leary was just taking the p*ss this morning".