In a vote by show of hands on Wednesday 4 October, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved a resolution recognising the right of all EU air passengers to take hand baggage with them at no extra charge. It also called for the harmonisation requirements relating to the size, weight and type of hand baggage and checked baggage for all airlines operating in the European Union.
“This would enhance transparency and consumer protection for all air travellers”, the resolution reads.
MEPs also recalled that, in accordance with the Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgment in case C-487/12 (see EUROPE 11158/31), unchecked baggage must be considered a “necessary aspect” of passenger transport. They called on the Member States to ensure compliance with this judgment.
“With this resolution, the European Parliament is demanding that the existing law be respected, even if some companies do not comply with it”, explained the MEP behind the resolution, Jordi Cañas (Renew Europe, Spanish), in a press release.
“A company can be low cost, but it cannot be low rights. Citizens should not have to constantly defend their rights in order to board a plane”, he added. “We cannot allow citizens to be subjected to the arbitrary choices of companies that prefer to pay penalties rather than comply with the law”, he added.
The European Parliament also reaffirmed its support for the completion of EU legislation on air passenger rights aiming to improve protection and information standards for passengers and strengthen their rights (see EUROPE 13206/8).
Read the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/8wo (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)