Free carry-on baggage and compensation for flight delays: new rules for low-cost airlines in the EU

The European Parliament has finally banned charges for hand luggage! From 2027, all passengers will be entitled to carry hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg free of charge. The EU has also secured compensation of up to 600 euros for flight delays of three hours or more. Find out how the new rules will affect airfares in Europe

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After a decade of intense debate, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have adopted a historic decision that will radically transform the air travel market. European lawmakers have agreed to grant passengers the right to carry carry-on luggage free of charge and to maintain strict rules on financial compensation for flight delays. These changes are intended to protect consumers from hidden fees and adapt legislation to the current market realities, which are dominated by low-cost airlines. This was reported by Euronews.

Carry-on Baggage Will Be Free in the EU: Size and Weight

The new regulation will effectively put an end to the popular practice of charging extra fees for carry-on baggage, which has been actively abused by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet. Once these rules take effect in 2027, airlines will be required to include the carriage of two pieces of baggage in the base ticket price by default.

Passengers will have the legal right to bring one personal item measuring up to 40×30×15 centimeters on board free of charge. In addition, passengers will be allowed to bring a small wheeled suitcase weighing no more than 7 kilograms and with total dimensions of up to 100 centimeters free of charge. Consumer advocacy groups have long argued that charging extra fees for basic carry-on baggage violates consumer rights.

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Compensation for Flight Delays in Europe: Amounts and Payment Conditions

For ten years, airlines lobbied to ease penalty provisions, demanding that compensation be paid only for delays of five hours or more. Carriers cited operational difficulties and technical problems at airports. However, the European Parliament stood up for travelers’ interests: the current three-hour waiting threshold remains unchanged.

Depending on the situation, passengers are entitled to compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros. If a flight covering more than 3,500 kilometers is delayed, the airline is required to pay 300 euros. If the delay exceeds four hours or the flight is completely canceled, the passenger is entitled to the maximum payment of 600 euros. According to European diplomats, maintaining these rates—which have been in effect for nearly 20 years—ensures market predictability.

Will Airfares in Europe Rise Due to the New Rules?

Stricter financial obligations and a ban on hidden baggage fees will inevitably affect pricing. Airlines have repeatedly warned that the new regulations will lead to higher flight costs.

Base airfare prices are expected to rise, as low-cost carriers will be forced to compensate for lost revenue from selling overhead bin space.

However, lawmakers have provided flexibility for passengers: travelers who set out on a trip without a suitcase (carrying only one personal item) will be able to officially opt out of the included large carry-on baggage service and purchase a ticket at a lower, discounted price.

Why are the laws for airlines changing?

The previous regulations protecting air passengers’ rights were adopted in 2004 and completely failed to account for the rapid rise in the popularity of budget flights. Over the past twenty years, passenger traffic—for example, at Ryanair—has increased nearly eightfold, and new major players have entered the market, dictating their own baggage policies. The EU has recognized that the old laws no longer meet public expectations, and a comprehensive overhaul has gone from being a matter of choice to an urgent necessity.

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