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Ryanair scraps Israel luggage charge

The budget airline announces U-turn after anger from passengers

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Ryanair has scrapped a fee it introduced earlier this week solely for flights to and from Israel.

The budget airline had announced that following the introduction of new cabin-baggage rules on all its flights, passengers not wishing to pay extra for priority boarding would have their wheelie-bags and other large hand baggage stowed for free in the hold, rather than the cabin.

But in Israel, passengers without priority boarding were being asked to pay €40 (£35) extra to check in their large bags and €50 if they want to keep them until just before boarding.

Passengers on flights to and from Israel were furious about the  charge and the Israeli media dubbed it "discriminatory".

The Irish carrier had claimed that Israel had been singled out because of its more rigorous security procedures but the Israel Airports Authority protested that there had been no change in its security procedures over the past week.

On Thursdsay, Ryanair backtracked on the policy. 

In a statement, the airline said: "From Saturday, 20th January 2018, all customers on Ryanair flights to/from Israeli airports will be permitted to bring two free carry-on bags (one wheelie and one small) to the gate, subject to airport security permitting them to do so." 

"Priority customers will be allowed bring their two bags (one wheelie and one small) on board. Non-priority customers can bring their smaller bag on board and place their wheelie bag in the hold, free of charge, at the boarding gate. "

Ryanair flies routes to Ovda, near Eilat, and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport from several European countries. It does not operate direct flights between Israel and the UK.

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