Mandatory cabin bags? Airlines group warns plan would be bad for passengers
A major trade body representing airlines across Europe has hit out at a proposal by MEPs in the European Parliament to force carriers to include a trolley-sized cabin bag in all fares, warning it would strip passengers of flexibility and drive up costs.
Ahead of a key vote on 24 June in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, Airlines for Europe (A4E) has voiced strong opposition to a proposed amendment that would make a wheeled cabin bag a compulsory inclusion in every ticket.
The group, which represents many of the continent’s leading carriers, says the change would undermine airlines’ commercial independence and disregard the travel habits of millions of passengers who choose to fly without a cabin bag.
A4E argues that the amendment, if passed, would remove an important option for budget-conscious passengers who deliberately travel without extra baggage to save money.
In Spain alone, more than 50 million passengers last year opted not to bring a second cabin bag, the group said.
According to A4E, the current system allows those passengers to benefit from cheaper fares and fewer frills, and should not be replaced by a one-size-fits-all mandate.
“Europe’s airline market is built on choice. Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need,” said Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of A4E.
“What’s next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don’t.”
Under current EU rules, airlines retain commercial freedom in how they construct their fares and services, an approach that has helped shape the Single Aviation Market and allowed low-cost and traditional carriers alike to tailor their offerings.
A4E believes that removing this flexibility would harm the competitive landscape and penalise travellers who value simplicity and affordability.
The airline group is now calling on MEPs to reject the amendment during next week’s vote and to protect consumer choice.
The final vote in the European Parliament is expected to influence future legislative action on air passenger rights and fare structures across the EU.
What else might change when it comes to cabin baggage?
EU transport ministers have also proposed a standardised size for free baggage on EU airlines, to avoid the uncertainty and confusion passengers may face when using different carriers.
MEPs have warned that “differences in airline rules on the size of carry-on and checked-in luggage and the fees charged to passengers create hidden costs when a passenger uses the services of different airlines”.
The current rules relate to an EU court ruling from 11 years ago which established that airlines could not charge extra for hand baggage, as long as it complied with “reasonable” size and weight limits, though it stopped short of defining what exactly constitutes “reasonable”.
