Ryanair announced an increase in bonuses for its staff who identify oversized cabin bags. Effective November, the bonus will rise from €1.50 to €2.50 for each bag intercepted. Chief Executive Michael O’Leary explained that the change is intended to deter a small number of passengers from bringing bags that exceed the allowable size limits. He stated that the airline is not attempting to catch customers off guard but aims to enforce compliance with its baggage rules.
Currently, passengers are allowed to bring a small carry-on bag measuring 40cm x 20cm x 25cm and weighing a maximum of 10kg for free. This dimension will increase to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm in September due to new EU regulations. If passengers attempt to board with larger bags, they may face extra charges of up to £75, which varies based on the route and travel date.
O’Leary indicated that approximately 200,000 passengers annually incur additional fees for checking oversized bags. He expressed no sympathy for passengers he referred to as “chancers” who attempt to carry on larger items. He emphasized that 99.9% of the 200 million passengers carried by Ryanair each year comply with the rules and can avoid complications by adhering to the guidelines.
In addition to increasing the bonus for intercepting oversized bags, Ryanair will also eliminate an €80 monthly cap previously imposed on how much staff could earn from this initiative. O’Leary also encouraged ground staff to be vigilant in identifying passengers who misuse the bag allowance.
Lastly, O’Leary expressed skepticism regarding the UK’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate, stating he believes it will not be met by 2030. He indicated that Ryanair would not increase its use of SAF, citing insufficient supply and describing the concept as “nonsense.” The SAF mandate will commence in 2025 with a 2% requirement, rising to 10% by 2030.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99mdv3y431o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss