Airlines for Europe (A4E) association has released a statement expressing its disapproval of a new proposal by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The draft would make a trolley cabin bag mandatory for all passengers, thereby “removing consumer choice”, according to the association.
On 24 June 2025, the European Parliament Transport Committee is set to vote an amendment to European transport legislation, which would give all flight passengers the right to carry on board a piece of hand luggage weighing at least a 7 kilograms and this free of charge. As far as the dimensions of the piece of luggage are concerned, the sum of length, width, and height would be limited to 100 centimeters instead of the now standard 55x40x20 centimeters.
However, while this might seem at the interest of many travellers, Airlines for Europe – representing multiple airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and EasyJet – is condemning the amendment.
“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. 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,” said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E.
By the current legislation, all airlines to determine their own fare structures, such as whether or not to include large cabin bags in their ticket prices. At the moment, many of Airlines for Europe’s members are applying a fee for those who want to travel with anything more than a small personal item. The amendment would thus either mean a decrease of income for the airlines or – more likely – an increase of ticket fees for their passengers.
According to Airlines for Europe, European travellers should have the ‘right’ to travel light, while the amendment “overrides the commercial freedom of airlines guaranteed under EU legislation and needlessly imposes a service on travellers who prefer to fly light”. The association is now asking the European Parliament to reject the amendment and preserve the consumer choice.
IATA opposition
Aside from Airlines for Europe, the amendment of the legislation is also being criticised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who accuse the European Parliament of meddling in operational and commercial issues that it doesn’t understand.
“When regulators meddle in commercial or operational issues they don’t understand, they usually get it wrong. Our consumer research tells us that the majority of travellers want to pay the lowest price possible for their ticket and buy the additional services they need. That’s the complete opposite of an amendment that will force airlines to re-bundle their offering. Consumers will be disappointed with higher costs for all, and they will be frustrated with the operational chaos of determining which bags meet the requirements and which do not. If EU Parliamentarians insist on regulating where regulation is not needed, they should be prepared to take responsibility for its negative consequences,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
A poll by IATA from April indicates that 72% of travellers agree with the statement “I prefer to pay the lowest price possible for my air ticket, and pay extra for any additional services I need”. The same poll shows that only 30% of people wanted to bring a bag on board.
