Brussels, 19 June 2025- Airlines for Europe (A4E) condemns a proposal by MEPs to remove consumer choice and impose a mandatory trolley cabin bag on all passengers.
Data consistently show that travelling light is the choice for hundreds of millions of European passengers. In one of Europe’s largest air travel markets Spain, over 50 million (more than the population of Spain itself) didn’t need an additional piece of cabin baggage last year and had the choice not to have this included as part of their airfare https://www.alaspain.com/consumo-quiere-obligar-a-50-millones-de-pasajeros-a-contratar-servicios-adicionales-que-no-necesitan-ignorando-la-opinion-de-la-comision-europea-y-en-contra-de-la-normativa-europea/.
Ahead of a European Parliament Transport Committee vote on 24 June, MEPs have proposed an amendmentAmending Regulations (EC) No 261/2004, (EC) No 1107/2006, (EU) No 1177/2010, (EU) No 181/2011 and (EU) 2021/782 as regards enforcement of passenger rights in the Union that overrides the commercial freedom of airlines guaranteed under EU legislation and needlessly imposes a service on travellers who prefer to fly light. The result will be higher costs for millions of passengers who neither need nor use an extra trolley bag.
A4E urges the European Parliament to reject this amendment and preserve the consumer choice that has been central to the success of the EU Single Aviation Market and to accessible air travel for millions of consumers.
“Europe’s airline market is built on choice. Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need,” said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E.
“What’s next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don’t,” she continued.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Kevin Hiney, Communications Director
Email: kevin.hiney@a4e.eu
Airlines for Europe (A4E) is Europe’s largest airline association. Based in Brussels, A4E works with policymakers to ensure aviation policy continues to connect Europeans with the world in a safe, competitive and sustainable manner. With a modern fleet of over 3,700 aircraft, A4E airlines carried over 771 million passengers in 2024 and served nearly 2,800 destinations across Europe and the wider world. Each year, A4E members transport more than 54 million tonnes of vital goods and equipment either by freighters or passenger aircraft.