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Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Aviation > Aircraft > EU Cabin Bag Rule Backlash: IATA Warns Free Carry-On Mandate Will Raise Airfare and Cause Chaos
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EU Cabin Bag Rule Backlash: IATA Warns Free Carry-On Mandate Will Raise Airfare and Cause Chaos

Pauline Khamala
Last updated: 20 June 2025 11:13
By Pauline Khamala 3 Min Read
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Passengers arriving at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 © Heathrow Airports Limited
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued a stinging rebuke to the European Parliament over a proposed amendment that would require airlines to offer free cabin baggage for all passengers—whether they want it or not.

Summary
IATA Warning of Higher Fares and Chaos at Boarding GatesThe Controversial AmendmentWhat Happens Next?
An image of the concourse of Helsinki's Vantaa airport.
Inside Helsinki’s Vantaa Airport © Antti Yrjönen

IATA Warning of Higher Fares and Chaos at Boarding Gates

In a sharply worded statement, IATA Director General Willie Walsh accused lawmakers of meddling in operational matters “they don’t understand,” warning that the move would backfire for both airlines and consumers.

“Consumers will be disappointed with higher costs for all, and they will be frustrated with the operational chaos of determining which bags meet the requirements and which do not. If EU Parliamentarians insist on regulating where regulation is not needed, they should be prepared to take responsibility for its negative consequences.”

Hurghada International Airport, Egypt
Hurghada International Airport ©Ввласенко

The Controversial Amendment

At the heart of the clash is a proposed amendment to the Passenger Rights regulation (2023/0437) by the European Parliament’s TRAN committee. The amendment calls for all passengers to have the right to bring a 100cm carry-on bag on board at no extra cost – in effect, making everyone pay for a service not everyone needs.

IATA’s position is underpinned by a traveler survey conducted in April, which found that 72% of respondents preferred to pay the lowest base fare and opt in to extra services like baggage. Just 30% of travelers said they typically pay for an extra cabin bag.

The implication: If the new rule passes, the remaining 70% will end up subsidizing a service they don’t use.

Tourists walking at an airport to show international tourist arrival
Tourists at an airport © kian

What Happens Next?

The amendment is still under debate within EU institutions, with final language and adoption far from certain. But the clash reveals growing tension between regulators trying to unify passenger rights across Europe—and an airline industry fiercely protective of its hard-won flexibility.

As negotiations continue, the only certainty is that passengers—and their bags—remain at the center of a political and economic tug-of-war at 35,000 feet.

Should cabin baggage be free for all? Join the conversation below!

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Pauline Khamala
By Pauline Khamala
Pauline is an award-winning journalist and Aviation News Editor with a passion of uncovering stories that connect complex topics to real-world impact. She can be reached at [email protected]
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