No more paid carry-on luggage. This is what the European Parliament wants in its resolution on standardized dimensions of hand luggage in air transport. The decision stems from a ruling by the EU Court of Justice that deemed it illegal for passengers to pay such a surcharge. Strasbourg now wants the European Commission to review the relevant rules and implement the decision.
“Every day thousands of European passengers are forced to accept ridiculous conditions on boarding the plane: the demand to pay for hand luggage and a seat next to family members represents the corruption of a transport market that no longer respects passenger rights” – says the 5 Star Movement European Parliament Member Maria Angela Danzì – The European Parliament stands with these citizens and, with the resolution voted today, makes a strong call to put an end to the abuses committed by many airlines”.
The decision reminds that air carriers’ “freedom to charge” regarding passenger and cargo fees, recognized by the 2008 EU transport regulation, does not include hand baggage charging. According to the European Court’s 2014 ruling, such luggage must be considered an “indispensable element” of passenger transport, provided that it meets “reasonable requirements” in terms of weight and size.
The Parliament’s proposal is that Brussels should therefore set a common weight and size standard for the entire EU and that baggage meeting these standards should not be subject to additional fees compared to the ticket price. Strasbourg also requests the Commission to consider the issue of costs related to site allocation.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
