EasyJet Condemns EU Free Cabin Luggage Laws as Penalty on Efficient Travelers

EasyJet has argued that European Union baggage regulations would penalize efficient travelers who pack light by forcing them to subsidize others’ baggage through higher base fares.
The legislative initiative would mandate free cabin baggage for all passengers across European aviation. European lawmakers voted with strong majorities to support regulations guaranteeing entitlements for both personal items and larger carry-on luggage.
The airline’s leadership contends that current pricing rewards efficiency. Passengers who travel with minimal baggage pay lower fares, while those requiring additional services pay incrementally, creating fair cost distribution based on actual resource consumption.
Mandatory free baggage would eliminate this fairness by forcing all passengers to pay identical prices regardless of their actual service usage. This would particularly disadvantage budget-conscious travelers who currently benefit from ultra-low fares enabled by traveling light.
EasyJet generates more than £2.5 billion annually from ancillary services including baggage fees. The carrier reported quarterly losses of £93 million while seeing encouraging trends in booking volumes and expanding its route network.