There comes a time in every airline’s operational years when its leaders make and implement a decision that isn’t initially appreciated by the masses.
For Qantas it was the 2011 fleet grounding (which actually turned out to be a beneficial move), for Air New Zealand is the was the decision to sell its Virgin Australia shares, and for Ryanair, it’s the introduction of a fee for suitcases as carry on.
Yes, a fee for suitcases as carry on.
The budget airline introduced a charge of £5 or AU$8.66 this week, for guests bringing anything larger than a handbag on board.
Ryanair justified the charge by saying the cost will give those with bigger bags priority boarding, which will allow them to stow away their luggage before everyone else boards. Alternatively, they can avoid the fee by placing their bag in the hold.
Chief Marketing Officer, Kenny Jacobs, said in an online statement that the new cabin bag policy is designed to speed up the boarding process and reduce flight delays.
However, Spain’s transportation leaders aren’t impressed by the new fee, describing it as a way of “looting” passengers and has called for travellers to boycott the airline, Express.co.uk reported.
The Spanish Association of Users, Employers and Professionals of Air Transport (AESTRA) said Spain’s airports should also consider giving their airline slots of “kinder” companies who won’t “violate the rights of passengers”.
“Ryanair enjoys a dominant position in the Spanish air transport market [and] this prevents users from choosing other airlines in some routes that the Ryanair company exclusively carries out and thus limits their ability to choose.”
AESTRA
The transportation body hopes the new carry on policy will be challenged in European courts as it is a “change of contract in the agreed conditions”.
READ: Ryanair boss admits mass cancellations are “clearly a mess”
READ: Ryanair considers pulling domestic flights in Britain