Could Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary Soon Charge To Carry Bags In Hold?

'I'll Charge You For Checking In Bags'
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BRATISLAVA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC - APRIL 10: Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary gestures during a press conference on April 10, 2013 in Bratislava, Slovakia. O'Leary plans to remove some toilets in his planes for extra seats. (Photo by Vladimir Simicek/isifa/Getty Images)
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Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has warned his low-cost airline could soon start charging passengers to carry their bags in the plane's hold.

O'Leary's move would come as part of a wider plan to halve the number of passengers checking in a bag from the current level of 20%, as reducing checked-in bags saves on fuel costs and speeds up flight turnarounds.

However, O'Leary admitted to the Independent: "We will never get rid of (hold) bags".

The Ryanair boss suggested that airlines were "likely" to charge passengers to take bags into the cabin "at some point in the future".

"We're very keen to find ways to ensure our pilots are flying in the most fuel efficient and safe fashion," he added. "All we're doing is trying to fly two minutes slower per flight."

Ryanair's low-cost policies have courted controversy like charging passengers to reprint their boarding passes, with O'Leary floating more daring ideas like charging passengers to use the toilet.

Asked if he was planning any other savings, O'Leary replied: "As soon as we can think of one, we'll be implementing it".