EU transport ministers approved new regulations that permit airlines to impose charges for hand luggage, marking a shift in air travel policies across Europe, according to Wales Online. The decision, driven by the Polish presidency of the EU Council, allows carriers, including low-cost airlines, to charge passengers for carry-on bags that were previously free of charge.
Under the new rules, passengers will be allowed to bring only one small personal item for free, measuring up to 40x30x15 centimeters, which must fit under the seat in front of them. Any additional hand luggage, including small suitcases or carry-on bags that go in the overhead compartment, will now incur charges. This effectively ends the era of free conventional-sized hand luggage.
The amendments also alter compensation regulations for flight delays and cancellations, reducing the amounts passengers can claim. Compensation for medium-haul flights decreases from 600 euros to 300 euros, while the maximum for long-haul flights is set at 500 euros. According to Fakt, passengers will be eligible to receive 300 euros for delays of more than four hours on short-haul flights (under 3,500 kilometers) and 500 euros for delays exceeding six hours on long-haul flights.
The proposal met with resistance from several EU member states. Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain expressed opposition to the changes, arguing that they undermine consumer rights. "The proposal goes against the rights of consumers," said Pablo Bustinduy, the Minister of Consumer Affairs of Spain, according to El Universo. The Spanish government hopes that the European Parliament will vote against charging for hand luggage.
Consumer advocacy groups also criticized the new measures. "The regulations significantly curtail many fundamental rights," argued the European consumer organization BEUC, according to Euro2day. "Although the agreement improves some rights on paper, providing consumers better access to information in case of flight disruption and related care, it provides a significant rollback of other fundamental rights," said Agustín Reyna, a representative of BEUC.
Airlines, however, welcomed the reforms. "Charging different amounts for baggage allows passengers to choose the exact services that best suit their needs," stated industry group Airlines For Europe, according to Wales Online. "If airlines were forced to include additional carry-on bags as part of the basic fare, it would reduce choice and drive up air fares for all passengers, which would harm consumers," said a Ryanair spokesperson.
The new regulations also require airlines to provide clearer information to passengers. Airlines must explicitly inform customers of the allowed weights and dimensions of luggage to avoid last-minute charges at the airport. Despite the reductions in compensation amounts, airlines are now obligated to reroute passengers in the shortest possible way when appropriate, even through other carriers or means of transport. They are also required to provide food, drinks, and accommodation in cases of delays.
The changes sparked concern among passenger rights advocates. "The approval of the new regulation will leave millions of consumers unprotected against increasingly frequent problems in European aviation, opening the door to abuses by airlines and weakening trust in the air transport system," warned Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, as reported by DNoticias. Radchenko emphasized that "this is an unprecedented setback and will cause enormous inconvenience to citizens."
The document will now be subject to a vote in the European Parliament, where it may be amended. If approved, passengers will have to pay for hand luggage that they could previously carry for free in the aircraft cabins, noted Fakt. Consumer groups expressed regret that the revision is being conducted through a fast-track process that provides shorter deadlines to the Parliament, which must approve the proposal by absolute majority.
The new rules aim to standardize baggage policies across EU airlines, potentially reducing confusion that leads to passengers being charged extra for bags deemed too big or too heavy. Currently, different airlines have varying rules regarding the size of the bag passengers can take aboard and the associated costs. For instance, easyJet allows a free bag up to 45x36x20 centimeters, including wheels and handles, while Ryanair permits a free carry-on bag with dimensions of 40x20x25 centimeters.
"A one-size-fits-all kind of approach would make it a lot simpler for passengers," travel consumer expert Jane Hawkes told the BBC. However, the new rule focuses on under-seat bags and does not currently mention bags placed in overhead lockers, which means passengers may still face charges for larger carry-on items.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.