XPost: alt.airports.uk.edinburgh, alt.airports.uk.glasgow   
   From: drmayr@btinternet.com   
      
   I did say some time ago that Mr O 'leary was driving towards charging for   
   hold luggage.  That will probably be his first step to acieving this pretty   
   unique aim.   
      
      
      
   Doug   
      
      
      
   "fox1"  wrote in message   
   news:8aare0dh7ork7mc2pq3tp7qcefdrpod2sf@4ax.com...   
   > Source: Bloomberg   
   >   
   > Ryanair Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest low-cost airline, plans to   
   > stop checking in baggage in a move that would cut costs by as much   
   > as 5 pounds ($9.26) a passenger, Chief Executive Michael O'Leary   
   > said.   
   >   
   > Ryanair may save as much as one-third on airport and handling   
   > charges of about 150 million euros ($185.4 million) a year by   
   > refusing to carry suitcases, O'Leary said at a press conference in   
   > London. Passengers will be encouraged to buy at their destinations   
   > any essentials that they can't bring on board by hand, he said.   
   >   
   > ``It will probably take more than a year to do, because we are not   
   > set up for it in all airports,'' O'Leary said. ``But we will make   
   > steps toward it. With the savings you make on our fares, you can   
   > afford to buy your hairdryers and things when you get there.''   
   >   
   > Ryanair last month posted a quarterly loss, its first since selling   
   > shares to the public in May 1997, after reducing fares to counter   
   > competition from EasyJet Plc, Europe's second-biggest discount   
   > carrier, and full-service airlines. Dublin-based Ryanair has cut   
   > spending by scrapping reclining seats, renegotiating airport fees   
   > and adding new planes with lower operating costs.   
   >   
   > ``It's a clever idea for cost savings, but what about people with   
   > lots of luggage traveling on Ryanair's holiday routes to places like   
   > Murcia in Spain?'' said Edmond Rose, an aviation consultant for GGCW   
   > Consulting.   
   >   
   > Ryanair has already increased excess-baggage fees to encourage   
   > passengers to cut back on the amount of luggage they carry, O'Leary   
   > said.   
   >   
   > The airline plans to leave the baggage hold empty rather than fill   
   > it with cargo, he said. Carrying freight would slow aircraft-   
   > turnaround times and incur extra costs, he said.   
   >   
   > EasyJet next week will remove weight restrictions on hand baggage.   
   > Limits on the size of bags, determined by the U.K.'s Civil Aviation   
   > Authority, are still in place.   
   >   
   >   
   > --   
   >   
   > View my aircraft pictures:   
   > "http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=1753"   
   > A new EDI URL: http://www.freewebs.com/ediairport   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)