Although news spread across Europe and beyond claiming that the European Union has banned charges for hand luggage on flights, this assertion is not accurate. The European Parliament has merely taken the first step in what could become a long reform process concerning passenger rights, and an actual ban on extra fees for cabin baggage is still far from becoming a reality.
It all began on June 24, when the European Parliament’s Transport Committee backed a proposal that would allow passengers to bring two pieces of hand luggage on board free of charge—one personal item, such as a handbag or backpack, and one larger cabin bag weighing up to seven kilograms and with total dimensions of up to 100 centimeters. This would establish unified rules for air travel within the EU, replacing current practices in which airlines—especially low-cost carriers—charge for nearly every additional centimeter and gram of luggage.
While this committee decision indicates political will for change, it does not yet alter anything in practical terms. For such a measure to become law, it must be adopted by the full European Parliament and then by the EU Council, followed by so-called interinstitutional negotiations with the European Commission and member states. Only once a compromise is reached does the proposed text go to a final vote in both bodies, as the BBC emphasized.
Resistance to this initiative primarily comes from the governments of member states themselves. In a joint negotiating position adopted in June, EU transport ministers did not support a ban on hand luggage fees. While some countries, like Spain, strongly advocate for eliminating these fees, most governments favor allowing passengers to carry essential personal items—such as medicine, food, drinks, documents, and devices—free of charge, but not larger bags.
Euronews highlighted that Spain fined several low-cost carriers last year—including Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, and Norwegian—a total of €179 million for “abusing their market position” by charging extra for hand luggage. However, Ryanair and Norwegian appealed the decision, and a Spanish court recently suspended the fines temporarily while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Airlines, supported by powerful lobbying groups such as Airlines for Europe (A4E), oppose the initiative. Industry representatives argue that eliminating hand luggage fees would effectively impose a one-size-fits-all service package on all passengers, thereby—paradoxically—reducing consumer choice. According to their data, over 50 million passengers in Spain last year did not need an additional cabin bag, suggesting that the new model could undermine ticket-buying flexibility.
There is also a real possibility that banning hand luggage fees could lead to increased base ticket prices. In its financial report for the fiscal year ending March 2025, Ryanair revealed that revenue from ancillary services—including hand luggage fees—accounted for one-third of the airline’s total income, amounting to €4.7 billion out of €13.95 billion, according to Euronews.
Ultimately, although the parliamentary committee has sent a strong political signal, EU rules on passenger rights have not yet been amended. The ban on hand luggage charges remains a proposal that still needs to navigate a thorny legislative path before it could become a reality.
