The same issue will be discussed by EU transport ministers on June 5. According to Euronews, the EU authorities are also studying the possibility of revising the 2004 European rules on compensation for flight delays.
According to Euronews’ sources, the latest proposal on the table among member states calls for the creation of a new free hand luggage space that could be slipped under a seat. Other, larger personal items in the cabin could be charged for.
The planned changes have already sparked heated discussions within EU structures and among civil society.
“The European Court of Justice has made it clear that hand luggage is an integral part of the basic ticket price.There is usually no extra charge for it if the hand luggage is of a reasonable size, ” says Stephen Berger, lawyer at the European Consumer Organization (BEUC).
European airlines are interpreting case law differently. Kevin Heaney, communications director at A4E (Airlines for Europe), notes that “under European law and the single market, airlines have the right to unbundle their services to offer passengers the best possible package”.
According to the organization, which represents 17 airlines in Europe and 80% of European air travel, the proposal before it is only intended to harmonize companies’ different approaches to carry-on baggage.
“I think it’s important to emphasize that the current proposal sets the dimensions of these personal items to provide clarity and transparency for all passengers as well as airlines,” continues Kevin Heaney.
The proposal is part of a wider project to reform air passenger rights in the EU. The outcome of the hand luggage tax is very important and its acceptance is far from certain. The debate heated up last month after BEUC lodged a complaint with the European Commission. A total of 16 consumer protection associations from 12 EU member states accuse 7 budget airlines of charging passengers unreasonable fees for hand luggage.
But the airlines also want to significantly reduce the compensation paid to passengers for delayed flights. This too is a hotly contested issue.
The European Commission’s reform proposal, presented in 2013, would increase the time limit to 5 hours of delay. The latest version proposes to raise the threshold to 4 hours of delay, and there is also a proposal to increase it to 6 hours depending on the distance traveled.
Currently, for a flight delay of 3 hours or more it is possible to claim compensation of 250 to 600 euros. The European directive applies to all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the nationality of the airline, and to flights arriving at EU airports if operated by an EU airline. The directive does not apply to flights to Europe operated by non-EU airlines or flights from non-EU countries with a stopover in Europe.
“At the moment there are two opposing positions among member states in the Council. Some will argue for a three-hour time threshold to be able to exercise the right to compensation, and there are others who will demand five hours or even nine hours depending on the distance.So that’s a really big source of conflict right now, ” says Steven Berger. – In total, about ten countries will make up a blocking minority in the EU Council.”
