Travelling light outside holidays costs under new Ryanair charges

AIR passengers seeking to avoid the rush and save money by flying with Ryanair outside the school holidays face a rise in baggage costs.

The budget carrier is to cut its baggage options from 108 to six. Many fliers will enjoy lower charges but some customers will see costs rise.

Ryanair’s fees are currently dependant on whether checked-in luggage is the passenger’s first or second bag, whether it weighs 15kg or 20kg and on the time of year.

In an attempt to improve customer service, Michael O’Leary, chief executive, said Ryanair will introduce a fee, expected to be £30, for all bags up to 20kg.

He claimed the change would benefit the “vast majority” of customers who travel in the high season. Presently, Ryanair fliers pay £40 for 20kg of luggage in the busiest months.

However, travellers in the low-season, outside school holidays, with 15kg bags will be 50 per cent worse off, as they currently pay £20.

The change is unlikely to benefit many holidaymakers this summer as a lot will already have booked.

The fees are part of a broader initiative by Ryanair to shake off a reputation for inflexibility and hidden costs. The airline said it also plans a “leisure plus” fare with priority boarding and reserved seating as well as offering discounts at restaurants in its destination cities and a “dedicated travel agency” for school trips.

It is also starting a corporate service on a refurbished 60-seat Boeing 737700, which is expected to cost about £5,000 an hour. Mr O’Leary said the jet had already drawn interest from football and rugby teams looking for luxury travel to games.

He also attacked the Government delay over a decision on Heathrow’s hope for a third runway, describing the approach to expanding airport capacity in south-east England as “a shambles” and repeated his call to let Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted all build more runways.

He also urged authorities to do more to limit the ability of air traffic controllers (ATC) to disrupt European airspace with strikes. Last month Ryanair cancelled more than 500 flights after industrial action in France.

Mr O’Leary is an outspoken advocate of the UK remaining in the EU and suggested yesterday that a vote to leave could result in more such strikes.

“The only way to reform the bad, such as French ATC strikes … is to keep Britain in Europe working with some of the more sensible countries like the Italians, the eastern European countries,” he said.

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