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Ryanair to cut baggage handlers?

Published: 12/05/2009 - Filed under: News »

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Ryanair’s latest cost-saving idea is to ask passengers to carry their own checked luggage through security and to the steps of the plane, according to a report by Reuters.

The report says that the budget carrier is considering the move to cut out the need for baggage handlers, and quotes CEO Michael O’Leary as saying:

“We would say to passengers ... take your own bag down through airport security, leave it at the bottom of the steps, we put it in the hold and on arrival we deliver it to the aircraft steps and you take it with you.”

Whether such a move would be allowed by airport authorities is another question, and businesstraveller.com wonders if the carrier would employ Ryanair-branded porters to help those unable to carry their baggage themselves (at a charge of course). On the plus side, it would place control over checked luggage actually reaching its destination into the hands of the passenger.

It’s the latest in a long line of cost-cutting measures either implemented or mooted by the low-cost airline, from the removal of check-in desks (see online news March 10, 2009), to charging for in-flight toilets. The carrier has however decided not to go ahead with its controversial “fat tax”, saying that it would not be possible to collect the charge “without disrupting its 25-minute turnarounds and its online check-in process”.

For more information visit ryanair.com.

Report by Mark Caswell

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COMMENTS » 

FrequentTraveller - 12/05/2009 10:48

An interesting idea. It's something which BMI already do for large hand luggage on their small Embraer jet aircraft.

But if that was also followed for hold luggage it would make it impossible to travel in Europe with liquids in containers bigger than 100ml. The security guidelines to pack your liquids in your hold luggage would become meaningless, as you would not be able to take them at all.

Also it could increase flight turn around times. As no hold baggage can be placed into the hold until passengers start boarding.

I assume this is another one of those ideas they are publishing in order to get some free publicity for Ryanair. Also to gauge the reaction of travellers as to whether they would be able to implement such a system.

shamey00 - 23/05/2009 09:44

If this is a success then I'm sure other airlines will follow Ryanair and this will become the norm. This will be good news for companies such as Direct Baggage who offer a door to door luggage service eliminating having to take luggage with you. I cant see the point of taking luggage to the airline and paying them to put it on the aircraft when for a fee someone will come to my house and take it to my hotel. Ryanair is doing what the other airlines haven't got the courage to do and that is to try out new ideas. In most cases they get bad press for this which is often justified but as with everything there is always an anternative we just have to look for it.

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