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The no-frills airline, renowned for its “‘hidden charges’”, was referred to the OFT following a number of complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Ryanair has promised to give greater prominence to information regarding “optional” charges, such as those for checking in luggage, and will provide clearer information on its promotions and low price guarantee.

“‘We welcome Ryanair’s action which we believe will make it easier for consumers to access the information they need when choosing low cost flights’,” said Mike Haley, the OFT’s director of consumer markets.

source: Telegraph.co.uk

Overweight passengers may soon have to pay a ‘fat tax‘ or even purchase a second ticket to fly with budget airline Ryanair.

The low-cost European carrier is considering an excess weight fee for very large customers after 30,000 people voted in favour of the measure on its website.

More than 100,000 passengers gave on-line feedback on various cost-cutting ideas put forward by Ryanair. Almost one in three people polled thought obese and overweight people should be charged more for tickets.

source: dailymail.co.uk

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary insisted Thursday he’s serious about making passengers pay for the right to relieve themselves on flights ” and is flush with interest in the idea of mounting credit card-operated toilets.

O’Leary, whose Dublin-based airline has pioneered the practice of filling air travel with extra charges, divided opinion last week by suggesting that his next target would be coin-operated toilets. Aviation analysts and the traveling public alike couldn’t tell whether O’Leary ” a cut-throat operator with an entertainingly bombastic style ” was poking fun at his own reputation.

source: iht.com

Ryanair is to close all its airport check-in desks by the end of the year.  The Irish airline is making a move to 100% online check-in in a bid to cut costs. The airline would not confirm how many staff will be made redundant as a result of the change.

Baggage handlers at bag drop desks will be retained.

fuente: ttglive

Despite most airlines banning voice calls, and polls showing passengers against the idea, customers onboard 20 Ryanair planes can now call somebody at 35,000ft.

The planes are mainly based in Dublin. But Ryanair says it will fit out all 170 of its aircraft over the next 18 months to allow all passengers to make and receive mobile calls and texts

A maximum of six people will be allowed to make calls at a time, however this may increase to 14.

The Dubai-based airline Emirates became the first airline to introduce an in-flight mobile phone service on a flight from Dubai to Casablanca, in March last year

source: Times Online

Ryanair has become the latest airline to reduce its services to Poland, after it confirmed today that it is cutting 11 of its routes from March.

The cancelled services include those from Bristol, Birmingham, Bournemouth, East Midlands, Luton and Liverpool.

The airline, which has defied the downturn by announcing 23 new routes from the UK this year, blames the “‘unacceptable increase in navigation charges'” in Poland for the decision.

source: telegraph.co.uk

Ryanair is willing to raise its offer for rival Aer Lingus but will not wage a prolonged battle if shareholders in Ireland’s former state airline continue to oppose the deal.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary told reporters he would be willing to increase his offer price of 1.40 euros a share, equivalent to about 750 million euros ($995 million).

However, in a statement Europe’s largest low-cost carrier ruled out raising the price to 2 euros or above. A spokeswoman for Ryanair declined to comment further.

Aer Lingus said the offer was “‘unlikely to be capable of completion'” as Ryanair had still not made clear why it would be approved by the European Commission, which blocked an earlier offer by Ryanair on competition grounds.

source: USA Today

The Dublin-based no-frills airline has increased its fees for putting a case in the hold to £30 for a return flight (this includes the airport check-in fee) – up from £5 three years ago. Last year the airline carried 58 million passengers. Assuming similar traffic this year, with around half its passengers still checking in at least one bag per flight, it stands to make at least £435 million in baggage fees. This is based on passengers taking the cheapest option (booking online and carrying only one bag). These charges rise to £60 for those who do not check in online or to £50 for two bags checked in.

Additionally, 75 per cent of passengers pay with credit card that increses the total amount on £217 million – bringing its total revenue from additional charges this year to well over £650 million.

Other charges on Ryanair that have increased include those imposed for flying with sports equipment (doubled since 2006), carrying a baby (now £40 per return flight, up from £32 in 2006) and excess baggage fees (three times higher).

source: telegraph.co.uk

Ryanair has announced a one-off return flight to Madrid for Liverpool FC fans travelling to the Spanish capital.

Usually, the route is available only in the summer, but the airline has bowed to popular demand.

Large numbers have called the Ryanair telephone lines inquiring about flights to Madrid for the Reds Champions League away match on February 25.

The special flight will depart Liverpool at 9am on February 25 and return from Madrid on February 26 at 1pm.

source: liverpoolecho.co.uk

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, yesterday won a significant legal victory in its long-running battle with Brussels over airport subsidies.

The Luxembourg-based Court of First Instance, one of the top courts in Europe, upheld the airline’s appeal against the decision in 2004 by the European Commission to block reduced airport charges and marketing support for the airline at Belgium’s Charleroi airport.

source: FT.com