Il European Parliament brings trolley back into cabin. The hand luggage returns free, by law. After years of controversy, consumer protests and disguised price increases, the EU is trying to put an end to the jungle of supplementsThe Transport Committee of the European Parliament has approved a proposal which aims to change the way people fly in Europe by requiring airlines (especially low-cost ones) to include hand luggage in the ticket price.
According to the text, each passenger will have right to take with you into the cabin free of charge one piece of baggage measuring up to 100 centimetres in total (adding length, width and height) and up to 7 kilograms of weight, putting an end to the extra costs that in recent years have caused the real price of low-cost tickets to soar.
The proposal was born for re-establish a principle which seemed to have been acquired, but which has been eroded by the pricing strategies of many companies which have turned baggage into a paid service. With the new rule, the ticket will return to include what was once natural, avoiding travelers to choose between a skimpy backpack and an expensive supplement often higher than the cost of the flight itself.
"A concrete step forward for passenger rights" declared the rapporteur of the proposal, Matteo ricci (S&D), who stressed that “the agreed compromises protect all passengers, with particular attention to disabled people and people with reduced mobility”.
The text also intervenes on the information transparency front, asking airlines to provide passengers with clear and complete information at the time of booking, to avoid unpleasant surprises and strengthen the bargaining power of consumers.
Low cost on the warpath: “This is how prices for everyone increase”
The reaction of the low cost companies was not long in coming. TheItalian Association of Low Fares Airlines (AICALF) and the European alliance Airlines for Europe (A4E) They harshly criticize the EU proposal, calling it an attack on consumers' freedom of choice.
Secondo Alexander Sources, president of Aicalf, themandatory inclusion of hand luggage in the basic fare of the flight ticket "would take away from the passengers the freedom of choice e would increase ticket prices, even for those who do not wish to use this service”. In his opinion, this rule would force even those travelling with a simple backpack to subsidise those who bring two bags on board. “Why should those who prefer to travel light and spend less pay for services they do not use?” asks Fonti.
The president of the Italian low cost association It also raises a practical question linked to the capacity of the cabins: “on average, There is space for only one carry-on bag for every two passengers. If the Parliament's position becomes law, everyone would pay for a service that many do not intend to use. And, paradoxically, the lack of space in the cabin would force many passengers to check in their largest baggage in the hold at the last minute, creating confusion, frustration and slowing down boarding operations". The risk, according to Fonti, would be that of "departure delays and additional waiting at the baggage carousel upon arrival".
The fear of the companies is that theimposition of a uniform rule ends to penalize millions of travelers. According to data cited by the industry, about 50% of passengers today chooses to carry only one personal item, such as a backpack or a bag. For them, the obligation to pay for a trolley would represent an additional cost without any use.
The judgment of Ourania Georgoutsakou, director general of Airlines for Europe, which represents companies such as Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air. In her opinion, the approach chosen by the European Parliament compromises the very essence of low-cost transport. “The European airline market is based on free choice. Imposing a mandatory service deprives passengers of this possibility and forces them to pay for something they may not want or use.” “What will happen now? Mandatory popcorn and soft drink in the cinema ticket?” Georgoutsakou quipped.
More protection for passengers: transparency, refunds and multimodal travel
The approved proposal does not only concern luggage, but also intervenes more generally on passenger rights. We are trying to Filling regulatory gaps emerged over the years, especially in cases of delays, cancellations or interruptions of travel. The new rules include, among other things, the obligation for companies to send 48 within hours un pre-filled refund form in the event of disruptions, to simplify and speed up compensation requests.
Particular attention is also paid to the vulnerable subjects. The children under 12 years must be seated next to their companions at no extra charge, and the companion of a person with reduced mobility will travel free of charge. In the event of damage to mobility equipment or service animals, passengers will be entitled to compensation.
Another open front concerns the multimodal travel, or those that involve the combined use of different means of transport (plane, train, bus, ferry). The proposal provides that if the entire itinerary is purchased in a single solution, the passenger will not have to lose protection in the event of a missed connection. Forms of assistance such as meals, accommodation and refunds are provided, in addition to the obligation for sellers and intermediaries to clearly inform customers about the type of ticket they are purchasing. In the event of omissions, operators will also be held financially responsible.
Next steps: the vote in plenary and the start of negotiations
After the favorable vote of the Transport Commission, the The proposal will be examined by the Parliament in plenary session, expected for July 2025. If the assembly gives the green light, negotiations will open with the EU Council and the Commission to reach a final text. It is a delicate phase, but the fact that the Transport Ministers have already reached a political agreement at the beginning of June gives hope for a positive outcome.
Thus ends a llong period of immobility. The reform of passenger rights had in fact been at a standstill since 2014, when the European Parliament had already proposed strengthening protections in the event of delays and cancellations. After eleven years of stalemate, the time finally seems to have come to update European rules to an air market that has, in the meantime, profoundly changed.
