Ryanair goes to battle with EU over free hand luggage policy
Brussels wants all airlines to guarantee that passengers can carry free hand luggage
Brussels delighted frequent flyers last week by initiating actions that would force budget airlines to allow passengers carry free hand luggage on board their planes, stating that reasonably-sized carry-on is an “essential” travel item and so shouldn’t be subjected to additional charges.Predictably enough, Irish low-cost company Ryanair has railed against the proposal, and CEO Eddie Wilson is confident that the European Commission won’t actually enforce the rule when it comes to a vote on Wednesday October 4.
“I don’t think they can. We are allowed to set the prices of our products, it is a fundamental right according to European law,” he said in an interview.
“We have the freedom to set prices. There is not enough space inside the plane for everyone to carry a carry-on suitcase and another under their seat, so we limit it so that those who want to have the comfort of carrying an extra bag, bring it. In the meantime, everyone can bring a bag on board that fits under the seat,” he added.
Whether or not the EC will make the ground-breaking ruling remains to be seen, but there is certainly precedent, since Ryanair and several other airlines were investigated by the Spanish courts this summer for their “abusive” luggage policies.
Can you be charged for carrying carry-on luggage on a flight?
Article ninety-seven of the Air Navigation Law indicates that the transportation of luggage must be included free of charge in the price of the ticket. The problem is, of course, that this hand luggage has the weight and volume limit set by each airline and some are clearly insufficient.
Ryanair though, is adamant that its policies aren’t about to change:
“Neither the European Commission nor the Parliament can increase the space available for luggage on a plane, so not all passengers will be able to carry a suitcase. That is why there is pricing. It is the same as in any other business, if in a hotel you want If you have a first-class room, you pay more,” Mr Wilson concluded.
Image: Freepik
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