The European Consumers’ Union (BEUC) has announced that it is ‘taking action’ against Ryanair and six other airlines over their hand luggage policies.
The BEUC (its acronym in French) has filed an official complaint to the European Commission and the European Consumer Network.
It claims abusive hand luggage rules are continuing to be implemented by Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Volotea, Norwegian Airlines, Wizzair and Transavia.
It has demanded an EU-wide investigation into the industry’s practices.
BEUC Director General Agustin Reyna in a statement: ‘We are taking action against seven airlines that are exploiting consumers and ignoring the EU’s highest court, which ruled that charging for a reasonably sized hand luggage is unlawful.’
The BEUC represents consumer rights organisations from a dozen different European countries.
Reyna also called for the EU to use the ongoing review of air passenger rights regulation to clarify ‘which services should be included in the basic ticket price.’
He said such clarification is essential as most travellers assume that with the basic fare they can board with a small bag and one piece of hand luggage.
In a 2014 ruling, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that airlines should not charge a supplement for hand luggage, provided it meets ‘reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions, and complies with applicable safety requirements.’
