Ryanair defends £40 boarding pass charge

Ryanair reported a loss of 10.3m euros ($14m; £8.8m) in the final quarter of 2010 after strikes and bad weather forced it to cancel 3,000 flights.

The budget airline said a pick up in passenger numbers had helped offset the disruption caused by bad weather and strike action, which saw it cancel more than 3,000 flights in the three months alone.

The Deputy Chief Executive of Ryanair, Michael Cawley also defended the airlines rule which charges passengers if they do not print out their boarding pass before they arrive at the airport.