Alfred Sant quizzes the EC on Ryanair’s baggage policy

Maltese MEP Alfred Sant asked the European Commission whether it has any plans, to follow up on the Italian Competition Authority’s investigation on Ryanair’s baggage policy. The Maltese MEP also asked whether the Commission has any plans to carry similar investigations on other carriers that have similar pricing structures.
The Italian Competition Authority announced on 21 September that it was opening an investigation on Ryanair’s policy of charging passengers for carry-on hand luggage. Consumers will be allowed to take with them for free a small, single carry-on bag, such as a purse or laptop case. However, consumers will be charged for a 10kg carry-on hand luggage.
The Italian Competition Authority said these items are an essential element of transport. Therefore, Ryanair and all other carriers, should include the price of the full ticket costs. The same Authority is accusing Ryanair of unfair commercial practices because this practice distorts the final price of the ticket, and does now allow for a true comparison with airline prices.

Maltese Version – ALFRED SANT JITLOB LIL KUMMISSJONI EWROPEA TINVESTIGA R-REGOLI TAL-BAGALJI TAR-RYANAIR

Alfred Sant staqsa lil Kummissjoni Ewropea għandhiex pjanijiet biex issegwi fil-qrib l-investigazzjoni tal-Awtorita` tal-Kompetizzjoni Taljana dwar ir-regoli tal-bagalji tal-linja tal-ajru Ryanair. L-MEP Malti staqsa wkoll lil Kummissjoni għandhiex pjanijiet li twettaq investigazzjonijiet simili fuq trasportaturi li għandhom strutturi ta’ prezzijiet simili.
L-Awtorita` Taljana tal-Kompetizzjoni fil-21 ta’ Settembru fetħet investigazzjoni fuq ir-regoli tar-Ryanair li jżommu l-flus lil passiġġieri li jġorru l-hand luggage. Il-konsumaturi jistgħu biss iġorru b’xejn handbag jew bagalja tal-laptop. Il-konsumaturi se jkollhom iħallsu għal hand laguage ta’ 10kg.
L-Awtorita` tal-Kompetizzjoni Taljana qalet li dawn l-oġġetti huma elementi essenzjali għat-trasport. Għalhekk, Ryanair u linji oħra, għandhom jinkludu l-prezz sħiħ tal-ispejjeż. L-istess Awtorita` qed takkuża lir-Ryanair bi prattiċi kummerċjali inġusti għax din il-prattika titfa’ ċ-ċpar fuq il-prezz finali tal-biljett, u ma tħallix lok għal paragun korrett mal-prezzijiet tal-linji tal-ajru l-oħra.