Ryanair's [pounds sterling]50 luggagecheck-in.

BUDGET airline Ryanair is set to charge passengers up to [pounds sterling]50 to check in their bags from next year.

It is a first step towards banning luggage in the aircraft's hold and scrapping pre-flight check-ins.

Ryanair aims to cut [pounds sterling]33million a year off airport costs by forcing passengers to go straight to the departure gate with hand luggage only and boarding passes they printed out from the Internet.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the restrictions will be phased in over three years. He added:'If people feel they must take a lot of luggage, they can fly with our higher-fare competitors.' The airline has raised the handluggage limit from 7kg to 10kg.