Madam, – May I respond to Ray O’Connell (September 25th) by explaining that Ryanair’s plan to dramatically grow tourist numbers into Ireland depends not just on the abolition of the suicidal €10 tourist tax but also on breaking up the Dublin Airport Authority monopoly which this year, during a recession and tourism industry collapse, has raised prices by 40 per cent to pay for a €1.2 billion white elephant T2, which the airport doesn’t need and can’t afford. This comes at a time when most other European airports are discounting fees and returning to growth.
Ryanair’s free-of-charge carry-on bag of 10kg is already 3kg more than industry standard (7kg). There is no possibility of increasing the carry-on baggage allowance from 10kg to 15kg, because bags of 15kg simply won’t fit in the overhead lockers and would pose a safety risk for passengers and crew. Therefore, this suggestion is a no-go area for Ryanair. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – While agreeing with Ray O’Connell’s basic argument, the increase in weight allowance for carry-on bags would surely result in a need for bigger bags than the current size. Such increase would be impossible. On an aircraft at 90 per cent or more capacity, the pulling and pushing needed to fit all the bags in the lockers is already leading to some bags being transferred to the hold. – Yours, etc,