Ryanair to charge for checked-in luggage

Ryanair will charge passengers for checked-in luggage from mid-March under plans announced this week.

The low-fares airline will reduce all fares by nine per cent from March 16th 2006 and charge £2.50 per bag per flight for luggage booked in advance and £5 per bag per flight if presented unbooked at the airport.

Under the changes, passengers travelling with hand luggage on an EU passport will be able to check-in on the web and bypass check-in and airport queues, and receive priority at boarding gates.

Luggage allowances will be increased from 25kgs to 30kgs, comprising 10kgs hand luggage and 20kgs checked-in luggage.

Ryanair expects these changes to mean lower fares for 25 per cent of its passengers who presently travel with just hand luggage.

It estimates the changes will cost it £100 million in reduced ticket revenues and excess baggage fees, but will save on airport and handling costs.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the changes means Ryanair will "become the first low fares airline in Europe to make web check-in available for all our customers and we believe that this service will prove enormously attractive to passengers who wish to avoid those frustrating queues at airport check-in, at security, and at the boarding gate as well."

"These changes will also be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of our remaining passengers who will still be checking in one bag, as these passengers will enjoy lower air fares, but also shorter and faster moving queues at airport check-in.

"We have no doubt that this pioneering development for checked in bags is the way forward, as it will encourage and incentivise more passengers on short-haul journeys to travel with hand luggage only."

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