Ryanair increases baggage charges

Ryanair has increased its baggage and airport check-in charges by as much as 50 per cent and has warned that it will continue to increase them.

From today, baggage charges will rise from €6 to €9 per bag (£5 to £6 sterling) and airport check-in fees will increase from €3 to €4 (£3 from £2).

The airline claims the move will help "encourage" passengers to "avoid" these charges by reducing their luggage and checking-in online which is, currently, free of charge.

Ryanair's spokesman Peter Sherrard said the airline was determined to encourage more passengers to travel with carry-on luggage only.

He warned that the airline would keep increasing its charges until it has reaches it target of "encouraging" at least half of its passengers to travel with hand luggage only.

Mr Sherrard refused to say what additional revenue the airline would gain from the increased charges and also refused to say what percentage of passengers traveled with carry-on luggage only or used online check-in.

"All I can say is we are below 50 per cent at the moment and we aim to get to 50 per cent."

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