Ryanair Drops ‘Infant’ Fee: A Win for Maltese Families
Ryanair’s U-turn: Children Can Now Fly for Free with Parents
Imagine this: You’re at Malta International Airport, checking in for your family’s flight. Your two young children are with you, but you’re dreading the extra cost – Ryanair’s ‘infant’ fee. That’s right, the low-cost airline has been charging parents for their children to sit next to them. Until now.
Ryanair’s Reluctant Change of Heart
In an unexpected turn of events, Ryanair has announced it will no longer charge parents a fee for their infants to sit on their lap. This decision comes after years of criticism from parents and consumer rights groups. The airline, however, maintains that this isn’t a policy change but a ‘temporary measure’ due to the current travel uncertainty.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, has been known for his controversial statements and reluctance to change policies. In 2017, he famously said, “People should pay to take their kids on holiday. If they don’t like it, they should go elsewhere.” It seems, however, that the airline has finally listened to the growing discontent among parents.
What Does This Mean for Maltese Families?
For Maltese families, this change could mean significant savings. According to the Malta Tourism Authority, Ryanair is the most popular airline for Maltese travellers. With this new policy, families can save up to €80 per child for a return flight, as the ‘infant’ fee was €40 per leg of the journey.
Take the Azzopardi family from Birkirkara, for instance. They usually travel to visit relatives in the UK twice a year. With two young children, they’ve been paying €320 extra for these trips. Now, they stand to save €640 annually.
this change could also encourage more families to travel, boosting Malta’s tourism industry. According to the Malta Tourism Authority, families make up a significant portion of tourists to Malta. Any measure that makes family travel more affordable could have a positive impact on the local economy.
However, it’s important to note that this change is only for infants under two years old. Children aged two and above still have to pay the full fare. Also, the policy is only temporary, so families should make the most of it while it lasts.
