The airline most synonymous with add-on fees is doing it again. Ryanair is adding €2 (US$2.80) to every one-way ticket, but instead of a service or 'convenience' fee, you might consider this one a form of protest.

As airline passengers, we all know that anything that an airline considers to be an added cost will eventually find its way into the tickets we buy. Ryanair is passing on to its customers the cost of the compensation it says it had to dole out this past year due to weather delays and cancellations. These payments were due to a passenger protection rule known as EC261/2004 which exempts airlines from paying cash compensation for delays and cancellations resulting from extraordinary circumstances that are beyond an airline's control. However, the rule does not exempt an airline from providing meals and accommodations in those instances. Ryanair claims that this provision in the rule cost it €100 million (US$140 million) over the last 12 months. And now it intends on getting the money back, and then some. It's calling the fee "EU261" – a not-so-subtle reminder to passengers as to who the airline thinks is really responsible for this charge.

Airlines increase fares and add fees to cover costs quite regularly. What's interesting is the approach that Ryanair is taking. It's doing what most airlines do when confronted with added costs, but the airline is taking things to a different level by putting a brand on the fee to make a point. Essentially the airline is saying: "If you don't like this fee, blame the EU." Ryanair feels that in situations where airline operations are disrupted by events out of their control (such as bad weather and strikes), airlines should not have to bear the financial burdens over airports and governments. According to several media reports, Ryanair promises to lower or abolish the new charge if the European Commission reforms its laws.