Tourist chiefs are dismayed at the news.

Following on from the news of a cut back in Ryanair operations at El Altet airport in Alicante, tourism businessmen are now dismayed at the airline’s decision to charge 20€ or 25 € per suitcase checked in during the high season of June, July, August, September and Christmas. 

Those who book online will all face the new charge from today, Thursday 15 December. Those who book by phone will be charged 60 € for checking in baggage, compared to the 35 € charged up to now. During the low season, from October to May, each suitcase will still cost 15 € to check in.

The already controversial charge to print out your boarding pass at the airport for those who have not done so at home will increase from 40 € to 60 €.

A statement from the airline said that about 70% of Ryanair passengers won’t be affected as they travel only with hand baggage, but tourist chiefs know that is not the case in Alicante where passenger numbers on the airline next year are set to fall to 2 million, from the 3.5 million this year because of the cutbacks at El Altet.

The company has also announced the creation of a new base in Mallorca, its 49th European base which opens in Palma in March next year with four based aircraft operating 47 routes, 17 of which are new. The low cost airline said it will deliver 2.8 million passengers a year to the island and sustain up to 2,800 jobs.

Source:www.typicallyspanish.com