Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:43. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the recent increase in baggage fees by Irish airlines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15820/16]
View answerWednesday, 15 June 2016
Questions (43)
Written answers
I understand that the increase in baggage fees applied by one of the Irish airlines is not a new price rise as such but rather an increase in baggage fees that applies annually during the peak summer holiday period. The other Irish airline announced an increase in baggage fees on 1 June in line with its previous practice in peak travel periods, but on 2 June introduced a revised baggage fee structure that will apply all year round. While the airline has claimed that the new fee structure will lead to lower baggage charges for most passengers, it would appear that passengers flying in off-peak periods will face higher fees in many cases.
As the Deputy will be aware, no Government in recent decades has pursued a policy of price control other than for a very small number of regulated sectors where normal competitive conditions do not obtain. According to the most recent Consumer Price Index figures released by the Central Statistics Office, air fares fell by 8.4 per cent in the year to April 2016. While increases in baggage charges will clearly affect some passengers, they should also be viewed in the light of the overall reduction in air fares over the past year.