Having squeezed just about every other frill out of its service, low-cost giant Ryanair is considering charging people to take luggage.

At a monthly media briefing the Stansted-based carrier's firebrand chief executive Michael O'Leary talked about introducing charges of up to £50 a bag in a bid to encourage people to only take hand luggage.

But last week a Ryanair spokeswoman played down any prospects of immediate action.

Mr O'Leary had revealed handling checked-in baggage was one of the company's biggest costs, and by introducing a scheme to cut back on luggage the Irish airline could save £33m a year.

"The purpose is not to make money from checked-in luggage - the purpose is to get rid of it altogether," said Mr O'Leary.

But a Ryanair spokeswoman last week said the idea was one of many being looked at by Ryanair in a bid to cut down on the amount of checked in luggage, and ground services.

Published Monday July 19, 2004

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