BRUSSELS — On Tuesday, the transport committee of the European Parliament approved a significant amendment concerning air passenger rights, which grants travelers the ability to carry hand baggage weighing up to 7 kilograms without incurring additional fees. If finalized in discussions with EU governments, this regulation would allow passengers to bring a standard 7 kg bag along with a smaller personal item that can fit under the seat.
Airlines voice concerns over potential impacts
This proposed change has met with strong opposition from airline lobbyists, who argue that it could lead to increased ticket prices across the board, even for those traveling with minimal baggage. Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of the lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E), raised concerns about the future implications of such regulations, stating,
“What’s next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket?”
She further emphasized,
“The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don’t.”
Despite these objections, a diverse coalition of political groups has rallied in support of relaxing carry-on baggage rules. The amendment, spearheaded by Matteo Ricci from the Socialists and Democrats, has become a key component of the European Parliament’s stance on a 2023 initiative aimed at enhancing the enforcement of air passenger rights. The final version of this amendment will be subject to negotiations with the Council of the EU, with Spain already indicating its support for the proposed change.
Legal background and implications for low-cost airlines
The basis for this new right stems from a 2014 ruling by the Court of Justice, which recognized hand baggage as a “necessary aspect” of passenger transport, provided the bags adhere to “reasonable requirements” regarding weight and size. In light of prolonged deliberations among airlines and experts concerning what constitutes reasonable standards, the European Parliament has intervened to enforce a universal guideline. Under this new regulation, in addition to the 7 kg weight limit, hand baggage must not exceed a combined maximum dimension of 100 cm (length, width, and height).
Low-cost airlines are projected to bear the brunt of this measure, which would disrupt their pricing strategies that currently allow only a small bag that fits under the seat to be carried for free, while charging extra for larger items that could potentially fit in an overhead bin. Ryanair’s recent financial report indicated that ancillary revenues, which include fees for hand baggage and additional services like seat selection and priority boarding, amounted to €4.7 billion out of a total revenue of €13.95 billion.
Airlines are also concerned that allowing all passengers to bring a 7 kg bag could complicate the boarding process and lead to delays if baggage does not fit in the cabin. In a letter to parliamentarians prior to the vote, A4E warned that “aircraft do not have space to accommodate one trolley bag per passenger,” pointing out that a typical aircraft cabin with 180 seats only has room for 90 trolleys in the overhead compartments. Nevertheless, the amendment stipulates that hand baggage can be stored either in the aircraft cabin or checked in the hold.
Under the new regulation, airlines can only deny the transport of hand baggage on security grounds related to its size, weight, or the specific characteristics of the aircraft. Steven Berger, senior legal officer at the European Consumer Organization, praised the amendment, stating it represents a clear position on hand luggage that meets “a fundamental consumer expectation” to carry both a personal item and hand baggage without additional costs.