Ryanair Boosts Staff Bonuses for Catching Oversized Bags

Ryanair Explores Increased Incentives for Staff to Identify Oversized Luggage

Ryanair, the low-cost airline, is exploring ways to enhance incentives for its employees to identify passengers carrying oversized luggage. This move comes as the company reported a significant increase in quarterly profits, driven by strong demand during the Easter period and higher ticket prices.

Currently, Ryanair staff are compensated approximately €1.50 for each instance of intercepting passengers with bags that exceed the allowed size or weight. There is also a monthly cap of around €80 per employee. Passengers found with oversized luggage face additional charges of up to €75.

The airline includes a small carry-on bag, measuring up to 40x25x20cm and weighing 10kg, with every ticket. However, following an agreement among European airlines to adopt a new minimum size for cabin luggage, Ryanair has decided to increase one dimension of the bag size from 25 to 30cm. The updated dimensions will be 40x30x20cm, resulting in a volume of 24 liters.

Passengers who wish to bring larger items or multiple bags must pay an additional fee. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O’Leary, mentioned that summer fares would remain similar to those in 2023. However, he expects a rise in profitability through cost control measures.

European Parliament members are advocating for airlines to allow passengers to bring an on-board personal item and small hand luggage for free. However, O’Leary believes this proposal may not become law due to space constraints. He explained that most flights are nearly full, with about half of the passengers able to bring two bags while the other half can only bring one due to limited space.

“We’re already struggling with that amount of baggage. That’s one of the reasons we are so aggressive about eliminating the scourge of passengers with excess baggage,” O’Leary stated.

He noted that over 99.9% of passengers comply with baggage rules, and “sizers” are present at airports. Ryanair is willing to incentivize its staff with a share of the excess baggage fees, which it expects to decrease over the next few years. O’Leary said the incentive is currently around €1.50 per bag and the company is considering increasing it to further reduce excess baggage.

Strong Financial Performance

Ryanair reported a profit after tax of €820 million for the three months ending in June, more than doubling from €360 million a year earlier. Revenues increased by 20% to €4.34 billion, fueled by the timing of Easter and higher fares, particularly for last-minute bookings. The average fare rose 21% year-on-year to €51 in the quarter.

Despite these positive results, O’Leary emphasized that the final outcome for the 2025-26 period remains vulnerable to adverse external events. The airline continues to navigate challenges while striving to maintain profitability and improve the passenger experience.

Ryanair’s ongoing efforts to manage costs and optimize operations reflect its commitment to delivering value to customers while maintaining financial stability. As the airline adapts to changing industry standards and passenger expectations, its focus on efficiency and innovation will play a key role in its future success.