June 27, 2025, 12:25 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
The EU Parliament approved a proposal from the Transport and Tourism Committee this week aimed at significantly strengthening the rights of air travelers. A key aspect: Additional fees for carry-on luggage, commonly charged by many low-cost airlines, are to be banned in the future. Although the legislative process is not yet complete, the airlines in question are already expressing criticism. TRAVELBOOK explains the motivation behind the initiative and what passengers should know now.
For budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, or Wizz Air, it’s part of the business model to generate revenue through paid extras, allowing them to offer low base ticket prices. Specifically, travelers must pay extra if they want to choose a specific seat or bring larger carry-on luggage. This practice is now common but continues to face criticism. Some countries have already fined airlines for such carry-on fees. In Portugal, for example, Ryanair had to refund the charged money (TRAVELBOOK reported). A standardization of carry-on rules is being pursued–specifically, the ability to carry on luggage up to a certain size for free. This could soon be implemented.
Overview
EU Decision to Make Carry-On Free
On June 25, 2025, the EU Parliament adopted an initiative report from the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) with a large majority. This calls for the establishment of uniform standards for carry-on luggage, particularly regarding size, weight, and costs. The goal: to allow carry-on items of a certain size to be carried for free–regardless of the airline you fly with.
For full-service airlines like Lufthansa, carry-on luggage weighing up to 8 kilograms and an additional personal item (such as a handbag or laptop bag) are included in the economy fare. For budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and others, even a piece of luggage that cannot be stowed under the front seat costs extra. The EU decision aims to end the often confusing inconsistency of baggage regulations within Europe and strengthen the rights of air travelers.
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What Exactly Was Decided?
Uniform dimensions for carry-on luggage are intended to make air travel easier, according to the press release from the EU Parliament. The decision is to grant passengers the right to take two pieces of luggage into the cabin for free. These would be, for example, a handbag, a backpack, or a laptop with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 centimeters, as well as another small carry-on item with a maximum size of 100 centimeters and seven kilograms in weight.
The initiative builds on a European Court of Justice decision from 2014. According to it, reasonable carry-on luggage must be included in the fare and cannot officially be charged as an extra service. But what exactly is “reasonable”? This question remains open. Budget airlines meet this vague requirement by allowing a small piece of carry-on luggage for free, such as a small bag that fits under the front seat. Their base fare thus includes a minimum level of service. For additional carry-on luggage, which is often needed when traveling, the frequently criticized fees apply.
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The EU decision aims to end the obvious and for many travelers noticeable problem by standardizing and clearly defining rules. However, it is not yet a law but merely an interim step in the legislative process. Whether and in what form the proposal will be included in the final legislation depends on further negotiations.
How the Airlines Are Reacting
Airlines for Europe (A4E), a lobbying organization for European airlines, has sharply criticized the decision on behalf of its members–including EasyJet and Ryanair–in an official statement. Among other things, it takes away passengers’ ability to choose. Free carry-on luggage will increase ticket prices for everyone, as the corresponding revenue for the airlines will be lost.
“There is simply not enough space on board to accommodate two pieces of luggage per passenger,” an EasyJet spokesperson told TRAVELBOOK. Since the introduction of the currently still applicable carry-on regulations, the airline has been able to reduce its delays by 94 percent. A reversal of this regulation would lead to a poorer customer experience, the spokesperson continued. Operational issues would mean that this service could not be offered to all passengers. He emphasizes once again the previously applicable consumer choice. “Almost 40 percent of our customers travel exclusively with the small carry-on item under the front seat and thus benefit from lower flight prices. If this regulation were introduced, these very customers would have to pay more for their flights in the end.”
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What the Implementation Would Mean for Travelers
If the decision is finally adopted, it would mean more transparency and lower additional costs for travelers when booking budget flights. But on the other hand, as the EasyJet spokesperson also explained, base prices are expected to rise. As a result, full-service airlines like Lufthansa would benefit. Because if the basic fares of budget airlines, which offer little service, become more expensive, then their “Light” or basic tickets, which include significantly more services, become all the more attractive.
The proposal is currently in the so-called trilogue phase. This means that negotiations with the Council and the Commission are ongoing; the decision is not yet legally binding. A definitive decision is expected in the summer of 2025. Implementation would be realistic from 2026.