The European Union takes another step to make it legal to charge us for hand luggage

It is just one more step but it is very relevant if we take into account the battle that Government and Ryanair are fighting in Spain for this reason. Europe has taken another step for airlines to charge for hand luggage through a modification in the regulations to which travelers accept when they fly inside the European Union.

And it is not the only relevant change.

What has been approved? The European Union Council, formed in this case by the Ministers of Transportation of the Member Countries, has voted in favor of modifying the regulations with which the airlines have to comply within the European Union. The text is about the collection of the hand suitcase but also compensation in case of delay.

According to the Information sent by the Council of Europeit is about defining better “with lighter and more direct rules” the rules to which passengers have to submit. And they emphasize that “they will bring more than 30 new rights to aerial passengers, applicable from the moment they buy the ticket, until they reach their destination, and in some cases even beyond. It is a historical milestone, since an agreement could not have been reached in the last 12 years.”

Are all countries agree? No, the proposed text has been approved with the opposite votes of Spain Germany, Portugal and Slovenia. Austria and Estonia have refrained. In eldiario.es They point out that the meeting has extended much more than expected since there was no consensus on some points such as the times that must be overcome before compensating passengers.

Why does Spain complain? Spain has voted against the proposition because, According to Pablo BustinduyMinister of Consumption, “the Council has adopted a new regulation for aerial passengers that ends with the free of hand luggage that enters the cabin and reduces the right to claim for the delays of airlines.”

The new text specifies that “additional rates applied by the transport of billed and not invoiced luggage” can be charged. That “not invoiced” is the key because it reinforces Ryanair’s thesis that there are no maximum required measures in which the size of the handbag is specified and, therefore, they will have a totally free way to maintain their current policy.

From the government they point out that it is a mistake and that the measure has been promoted by “the airline lobby.” And Bustinduy emphasizes:

“This new text confirms what we already knew: to charge for the hand luggage that enters the cabin or for the companion seat of a dependent person is illegal with the current legislation. That is why airlines have pressed both to legitimize this abusive practice with a new regulation”

Not just luggage. In addition to hand luggage, the new text opens a new path for the right of passenger rights in case of delay. If the text is maintained until its final approval, the times that must pass before compensation will also be changed that, until now, was applied when the delay was greater than three hours.

So, You want to approve new conditions:

• Trips of less than 3,500 km and trips within the EU: Compensation for delays of more than 4 hours (€ 300)
• Trips of more than 3,500 km: Compensation for delays of more than 6 hours (€ 500)

Why is it relevant? The Government and Ryanair maintain an intense dispute in Spain. Ryanair only allows Free access to a lump of a maximum of 40x20x25 cm. That barely leaves space for a brief backpack and There are those who are doing business with it.

For the Government, this way of acting is illegal because they ensure that it does not meet the minimum taxes by the European Union that talks about companies are obliged to allow the entry of “essential” luggage. This led the government to impose a fine that added 179 million euros to five airlines (Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian and Volotea). Ryanair, the most punished, took a fine of more than 107 million euros.

However, Justice has not shown preference Clara for any of the actors. In Spain, some courts have failed In favor of the user When it comes to claiming the money charged by the hand suitcase but others have proved the right To the Irish company.

The Government-Ryanair battle. From the application of the fine, Ryanair and the government live an intense battle that has left us all kinds of scenarios:

Remember that Ryanair is the company that greater volume of flights has in Spain And, therefore, its departure from some regional airports has seriously injured the activity that moved there, Like Valladolid’s.

Is everything said? No, the text now has to pass the European Parliament Filter and it remains to be seen to what extent there is consensus. The change in the European Union Council has been approved by little (more than 15 countries that represent more than 65% of the population) and explain in eldiario.es that there have been differences when approved the increase in the necessary times before compensating passengers due to delays, this being the most thorny point.

Photo | Niels Baars and Anastasiia Nelen

In Xataka | Ryanair’s CEO is about to pocket 100 million euros. His merit: Make shareholders join him