MEPs criticize behavior of (European) low-cost airlines

European Voice ^ | 10.05.2012 / 15:11 CET (May 10) | Dave Keating

[Olog-hai]

MEPs today (10 May) voted to condemn low-cost airlines, such as Easyjet and Ryanair, for “aggressive business practices” that hurt the regional airports they operate out of. MEPs said such behavior breaches EU competition law.

The resolution, drafted by Philip Bradbourn, a UK Conservative MEP, says that excessive booking fees and hand-luggage restrictions are discouraging travelers from buying goods in smaller regional airports. The resolution calls on the European Commission and member states to impose caps on charges for excess baggage, and for a common upper weight limit to be set. …

[rawhide]

I hope Spirit Air is watching! $100 to carry you own bag on-board! Ridiculous!

[armydoc]

I hope Spirit Air is watching! $100 to carry you own bag on-board! Ridiculous!

What's ridiculous about a private company running its business as it sees fit? Don't like it? Don't bring a carry on. Fly another airline. Do anything but please don't applaud unnecessary, harmful and unconstitutional government intervention

[kik5150]

I love Easyjet. I travel light. Why shouldn’t I get a price break?

[Aevery_Freeman]

MEP’s seek to pass “Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog” law.

[pepsionice]

The RyanAir business scheme is one that probably wouldn’t work in the US. They go to small airports and just say....we want to operate six flights in and out each day...with no taxes or extra fees tied to us. The airport likely has no real business currently and agrees. So you drive to a town in the middle of nowhere....park for $40 a week...fly out to another airport in the middle of nowhere....rent a car....and do your vacation.

When I flew in Rome....I thought I’d be at the “big” airport...but it ended up being a 1950’s airport about five miles outside of town. I doubt if they had more than twenty flights a day in and out of that small airport. No customs....just pick up your bag and go.

[rawhide]

I have not and will not fly spirit Air. Still, their price shenanigan on a carry-on is ridiculous! And I will tell you why. This can lead to other airlines to begin charging this carry-on fee. Just wait and see, this will happen. This is what happened to the checked baggage with one airline charging a fee, and now almost all airlines are charging the fee. The airlines would love to nickel and dime you for everything if they could get away with it, including going to the restroom, which I understand an airline in Europe is wanting to do. Wait until the airline begin to start charging by the pound to fly.

[armydoc]

I have not and will not fly spirit Air.

Thank you for illustrating my point. It appears capitalism is working perfectly here. A private enterprise offers a service at a price they set. That price is intended to maximize profits (the horror!). Consumers are free to accept or reject. Of course other airlines will start charging fees if they judge that they will maximize their profits. If they judge wrong, they may be out of business because of the backlash of people like yourself. There is no role for government intervention here. If you are a conservative you should not be cheerleading for it.

[BfloGuy]

excessive booking fees and hand-luggage restrictions are discouraging travellers from buying goods in smaller regional airports

Are they running shopping malls or places where planes land and people can get on them?