Ryanair offers extra legroom and 'fine dining' with corporate jet launch

Budget airline Ryanair has launched a corporate jet charter service with a Boeing 737-700 customised to offer wider seats and more leg room.

The single plane will offer more leg room and comfier seats than the usual Ryanair cattle class, seating up to 60 passengers on flights of up to six hours.

The carrier's current 737-800s offer a seat pitch of 30 inches, while the corporate jet will offer 48 inches, reclining backs and leather upholstery.

Spokesman Robin Kiely added that the plane will be crewed by a Ryanair pilot and cabin crew who will be able to make use of "fine dining" catering facilities.

“More than 25m business travellers fly with Ryanair every year, choosing our low fares, unbeatable on-time performance, and Europe’s largest route network, along with the benefits of our Business Plus service," he said.

Last month the airline, Europe’s biggest discount carrier, made a move to soak up business customers in the wake of troubles at Deutsche Lufthansa and Air Berlin.

Ryanair said it will double operations in Berlin and add bases in Hamburg and Nuremberg as it seeks a fourfold expansion of its share of the German airline market tor 20% from about 5% currently.