Ryanair's €625m from extras fees passengers face
Ryanair profited by €625m last year by charging passengers for "extras" such as checking in their bags.
Income obtained from additional charges such as in-flight food and commission on hotel bookings, car rental and insurance rose "dramatically" during 2008, jumping to nearly £546m (€625m).
The list, which was compiled by IdeaWorks, found that the no-frills carrier's ancillary revenue last year accounted for 19.3pc of its total earnings.
The research company said that only three giant US carriers -- American Airlines, United and Delta -- had more ancillary revenue last year than Ryanair, which has just announced a 50pc baggage fee increase from next month.
"It just angers consumers when you try to squeeze every last quid out of their pockets," Jay Sorensen from IdeaWorks said.
"I think they should switch brands if they are unhappy. The sickly patient known as the world's airline industry suffered through 2008 and only survived due to dramatic schedule cutbacks, the slow reversal of fuel prices and an intravenous injection of ancillary revenue.
Mr Sorensen said he objected to an additional fee which was not optional.
"These fees are really part of the fare. It is disingenuous to pretend they are anything else."
The news comes as Ryanair revealed that they are pushing up the prices for fees with passengers with luggage, as seven out of 10 of its customers fly with only hand luggage.
As well as raising its baggage fees Ryanair recently imposed a £5 surcharge for checking in online, despite simultaneously abolishing airport check-in desks. It also charges extra for priority boarding; booking with a credit card; and in-flight food and drinks.
INCREDIBLE
Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said that Ryanair was able to provide passengers with low fares by supplying this range of ancillary revenue services such as hotel accommodation, travel insurance, and bus and rail tickets. "Ryanair is not simply an airline: it is the Tesco of the skies," Mr McNamara said.
The IdeaWorks survey looked at ancillary revenues taken by 91 airlines, which between them amassed an incredible £6.73bn (e7.7bn) in surcharges last year.
Overall airlines amassed $10.8bn (e7.4bn) in revenue from ancillary charges, which was represented a 345pc increase from 2006.
- Caroline Crawford
