‘Cabin baggage wars’ set for another major battle – here’s what it means for airline passengers
New cabin baggage rules on the cards
- The European Parliament's transport and tourism committee has voted to mandate airlines to allow passengers two pieces of cabin baggage, a personal item and small hand luggage, without additional fees.
- This initiative aims to prevent budget airlines from imposing "unjustified extra costs" on travellers who currently face charges for larger cabin bags or are limited to one small personal item.
- Budget airlines, including Wizz Air and Ryanair, oppose the proposal, arguing it would increase costs for millions, slow down boarding processes, and undermine their low-cost operational models due to limited aircraft space.
- The proposal will proceed to a full vote by the European Parliament, followed by "trilogue" negotiations involving the Council and Commission, indicating a lengthy process before potential implementation.
- While some airlines like British Airways and Jet2 already offer more generous cabin baggage allowances, a new EU law could lead to harmonised baggage rules across European flights, impacting many UK-EU routes operated by EU carriers.