New European Union regulations will require airlines to permit passengers to bring free hand luggage on flights starting in 2027. The rules, provisionally agreed upon by MEPs on Monday, apply to flights within or departing from EU member nations.
Key Provisions of the New Rules
Under the agreement, passengers will have the right to carry one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, without any additional fee. Airlines, intermediaries, and search portals must display the air fare inclusive of carry-on luggage from the outset of the booking process.
The EU also stated that airlines may offer cheaper tickets for passengers who voluntarily choose to travel without hand luggage. Additionally, passengers will not be charged extra for correcting spelling errors in their names or for obtaining a printed version of a boarding pass if they have already checked in. Travelers will also have the right to receive boarding passes digitally upon check-in without needing a user account or specific application.
Protection for Passengers
Officials added that passengers cannot be denied boarding solely because they used their own printed version of a digitally issued boarding pass. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, praised the agreement, saying: “The European Parliament has always been the strongest advocate for strong air passenger rights. This agreement will strengthen the rights of air passengers across Europe. It will bring greater transparency and predictability for both consumers and airlines, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy for our industry. Parliament fought hard to make travel fairer and procedures clearer, and this is what we have delivered.”
Airline Executives Push Back
However, the plan has drawn sharp criticism from airline bosses. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary fumed at the changes, stating: “At this time of international crisis, all the EU Parliament and Council can do is invent new regulations, which will now force airlines to advertise higher air fares (which include 2nd cabin bag fees) instead of advertising our lowest air fares (which exclude 2nd cabin bag fees) which is what more than 50% of Ryanair passengers choose on a daily basis.” He urged the EU to stop “making rubbish regulations” and instead act to “improve the competitiveness of EU airlines.”
Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s chief executive, called the plan “crazy” and “terrible for the consumer,” according to The Guardian. He argued: “There just isn’t the space in the cabin, so that’s another lunatic idea. We would go back to the days of having to offload cabin bags and put them in the hold – it was one of the number one causes of delayed boarding in the old days.”
The new rules are set to take effect in 2027, giving airlines time to adjust their policies and operations.
