The institutional battle over charging for carry-on luggage on commercial flights has taken a new step in defense of passengers. The Transport Committee of the European Parliament voted this Tuesday, by a large majority (38 votes in favor out of 42), against legalizing this practice and confirmed that charging for carrying a suitcase in the cabin is "illegal."
In this way, Brussels opposes the regulation proposal approved by a narrow margin on June 6 by the Council of the European Union, which introduced significant changes in the rights of air passengers. Among them, the possibility of charging for carry-on luggage, raising the minimum threshold for compensation delays - from three to four hours on flights of up to 3,500 kilometers and to six hours on long-haul flights - or applying charges for any modification of ticket data made within 24 hours prior to the flight departure. The vote was rejected by countries such as Spain, Germany, Estonia, and Portugal, but was approved by a narrow margin pending the European Parliament's position, which has now been revealed. However, the Airline Association (ALA) emphasizes that this new decision may be confused with this proposal to reform the Regulation and warns that "this proposal is not final as the reform procedure is still ongoing, and therefore, the current carry-on baggage policy remains unchanged pending the EU's approval of the final text."
With its decision, the European Parliament also supports the position of the Ministry of Social Rights and Consumption of Spain, which recently imposed a fine of 179 million euros on five airlines - Vueling, Ryanair, Norwegian, EasyJet, and Volotea - for charging passengers for bringing a carry-on bag into the cabin without additional cost - in our country, more than 50 million passengers travel without carry-on luggage - as well as for other practices considered abusive. "This is excellent news," celebrated Minister Pablo Bustinduy, emphasizing the importance of the vote being approved by "practical unanimity," with 38 out of the 42 votes that make up the Committee. "I am convinced that this battle, as it could not be otherwise, will be won by those of us on the side of the citizens and their rights, and not by the interests and profits of a handful of huge multinational corporations."
The Popular Party has also applauded the adoption of the report, as it defends the right of travelers to board with a purse and carry-on luggage "at no additional cost, as long as it complies with applicable safety requirements." "The industry must collaborate in harmonizing these measures," defended the 'number 2' of the PP in the European Parliament, Dolors Montserrat.