Airlines for Europe (A4E) has confirmed that its member airlines have started applying the guaranteed cabin baggage size for the personal item typically stored under the seat, which was agreed by member states last month.
The agreement sets out the dimensions of the personal item, which passengers can already bring into the cabin at no extra cost. It is defined as an unchecked bag with dimensions of 40×30×15 cm.
“All A4E airlines will roll out the guaranteed dimensions and have them in place by the end of the 2025 summer season. Carriers will continue to permit larger personal items at their discretion, as is already the case for many A4E airlines,” A4E said in a press release.
Budget airline Ryanair has now said it will bring in the new free cabin baggage allowance “over the coming weeks”.
Ryanair’s current dimensions for a free personal item are 40x25x20cm. The airline will align itself with the new hand luggage proposal by increasing the bag width from 25 to 30cm.
Spain continues fines
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air has confirmed that it was the latest airline to be investigated by Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs over practices such as charging for larger cabin bags, reports Reuters.
The ministry has already imposed fines totalling a combined €179 million (R3,7bn) on five other airlines over such practices.
A Spanish court suspended the fines on three of those airlines – Ryanair, Norwegian Air and Vueling – while the matter is under judicial review following legal challenges by those carriers. The two other airlines fined were easyJet and Volotea.
