Ryanair to make passengers load baggage on planes

by Nicola Clark, marketingmagazine.co.uk 25-Jun-09, 11:20

LONDON - Ryanair has announced plans to make passengers carry all of their own luggage on to their planes.

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The airline is hoping to axe 90% of its baggage handlers and instead allow passengers to carry their own luggage to the plane.

The move has been met with dismay by the airport industry amid concerns that it will make the already tedious security check in process even longer. There is also concern that travellers with bulky luggage to carry are unlikely to splash so much cash in Duty Free.

Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary, commented: ‘What it means is no more waiting at the carousel, no more losing your bags, no more wasting your life in over-priced airport terminals.'

Budget airline Ryanair has taken no-frills to new levels and also has plans to introduce a charge to use the toilets onboard. The airline plans to reduce the number of toilets onboard in order to cram in more seats.

Additionally from October the airline is abolishing check in facilities and will instead demand that all passengers check in online.

Comments

Gav S - 25/06/2009

I think I'd rather walk.

Aristides Pietrangeli - 25/06/2009

They'll have us fuelling the planes soon enough as well.

Jason Edge - 25/06/2009

Are Ryanair trying to put themselves out of business? O'Leary seems to have lost sight of his customers. I've flown 'cattle class' a few times but there is a limit to how much of a service you can cut. I bet Stellios is rubbing his hands together at the prospect of all the new passengers he is about to inherit!

Ed Kemp - 25/06/2009

I was so angry the last time on was on a Ryan Air flight that i hoped we'd crash, before i thought it through properly that was.

James Kent - 25/06/2009

Do you think they'd class a porta-loo as luggage? That way you could undercut them on charging for the toilet and cover the costs of your really cheap and unpleasant flight....