European officials vote to ban airline carry-on luggage fees to avoid ‘unjustified extra costs' for EU passengers
EUROPEAN officials voted yesterday to ban airline carry-on luggage fees to avoid "unjustified extra costs" for passengers.
An amendment on air passenger rights was approved by the
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Female hand holding the luggage suitcase weighting on the kilo scales for check the weight prepare check-in at the airport terminal.
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The proposal would allow
The new rule - if confirmed in negotiations with
And it comes in a move strongly opposed by the aviation sector.
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Many low-cost airlines across Europe already include only one small-board item in the ticket without charging an extra fee.
In a statement before yesterday's vote, Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of the Airlines for Europe (A4E) said: "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."
She continued: "What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket?
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"The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't."
The new measure would apply to all flights departing or arriving within the 27-nation European Union.
Dramatic moment Ryanair plane is forced to abort landing during Tenerife storm
And it was adopted as part of amendments to passenger rights rules.
It was proposed by the Socialist and Democrats MEP Matteo Ricci in 2023 to strengthen the enforcement of air passenger rights.
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He said that the new rule sought to spare passengers of "unjustified extra costs."
And the transport committee has also voted to introduce a common form for compensation and refund claims as well as a defined list of extraordinary circumstances, such as war or natural disaster.
The proposals will go to a vote by the Council of the European Union.
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Many low-cost airlines across Europe already include only one small-board item in the ticket without charging an extra fee
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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