EU may ban additional hand luggage fees. Carriers say ticket prices will have to be raised

The European Parliament's Transport Committee has approved an amendment to the law on air passenger rights that will allow passengers to travel with hand luggage weighing up to 7 kilograms without additional fees. At the same time, carriers said that such a decision would lead to an increase in ticket prices for all passengers, regardless of the amount of luggage they have. This is reported by Politico.

So, if this rule is confirmed during negotiations with EU governments, then luggage weighing up to 7 kilograms will be transported free of charge in addition to one small personal item that can fit under the seat.

However, airline lobbyists said that the new rule will force carriers to increase ticket prices, even for passengers flying with minimal luggage.

"The European Parliament should allow travellers to decide what services they need, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they do not need," said the lobby group Airlines for Europe.

The publication noted that the idea of ​​easing the rules on hand luggage was supported by a broad coalition of political groups in the European Parliament. The final text will still have to be agreed with the EU Council. However, Spain has already made it clear that it supports the change.

Discussions on expanding passenger rights and reasonable requirements for them continued for several years before the European Parliament intervened to establish a single standard. In addition to a weight limit of 7 kg, the norm also stipulates that hand luggage must be "within the maximum dimensions of 100 cm (sum of length, width and height)".

The rule is expected to hit budget airlines hardest, as it will affect their pricing policy, which allows only a small bag that fits under the seat for free and charges for larger bags, even if they fit in the overhead bin.

According to Europe's largest low-cost carrier Ryanair, additional revenue, including hand luggage fees and additional services such as seat selection and priority boarding, amounted to EUR 4.7 billion out of the company's total revenue of EUR 13.95 billion.

In addition to profits, airlines are concerned that allowing all passengers to carry on board a bag weighing up to 7 kg will cause problems during boarding and lead to additional delays if the bag does not fit in the cabin. Airlines for Europe also indicated in the letter that "a typical aircraft cabin is designed for 180 seats, but there is room for only 90 pieces of luggage on the overhead bins." However, the amendment leaves no room for excuses and allows hand luggage to be stored "either in the aircraft cabin (as hand luggage) or in the aircraft's baggage compartment as checked baggage."

Airlines may refuse to carry hand luggage on board "only for safety reasons" regarding its weight, size or aircraft characteristics, the regulation states.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Hungarian airline Wizz Air plans to start flights to Ukraine six weeks after the fighting in Ukraine ceases.

Latvian airline airBaltic also confirmed its readiness to resume regular flights to and from Ukraine as soon as airspace is opened and all necessary permits are obtained.

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