Ryanair has decried the latest measure from the Parliament of the European Union that mandates commercial airlines allow travelers to bring cabin bags aboard for free. The ultra-low-cost carrier argues that instead of offering a better value to flyers, it will force European carriers to inflate basic airfare prices.

Posted on the company’s news portal, the airline cites that the customer preference for the lowest fares overshadows all other considerations when booking. This is a fundamental flaw overlooked by the proposed law, as Ryanair states. The carrier claims many flyers do not require a second cabin bag, and the higher advertised cost that covers this option serves to drive up baseline ticket prices without adding value.

EU261: Breaking A Decade Of Deadlock Over Travelers’ Rights

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Referring to the baggage measures as “stupid rules” and “gobbledygook,” Ryanair argued that the EU261 regulatory changes will only serve to make European airlines less competitive. According to the NL Times, the EU Parliament did state that airlines would be permitted to offer lower airfare to customers who choose to voluntarily travel without hand luggage. The new law also encompasses broader passenger rights that have taken a decade of negotiations between European leaders to agree on.

Some of the other provisions include the elimination of fees for parents to sit next to their children. However, the compensation for flight delays of three hours or more remains unchanged. When the rules take effect next year, passengers will be entitled to a free personal item if EU261 remains unchanged before implementation. The law defines hand luggage as bags measuring 15.75 by 11.81 by 5.91 inches (40 by 30 by 15 cm) and a small wheeled suitcase with a maximum weight of 15 pounds (7 kg).

The new rules are not official until the European Parliament and the European Council separately vote to confirm them. The parliament is scheduled to hold its next session in July. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary had harsh words for the current draft in the airline’s press release published June 16, saying:

““These latest EU261 regs are more bureaucratic bunkum from the EU Parliament and Council. Instead of encouraging EU airlines to advertise our lowest fares… As usual, neither the EU Parliament, nor the Council, have done anything to improve the competitiveness of EU airlines [or reform] the EU’s broken ATC system.”

Ryanair Speaks Out Against Bureaucratic Overreach

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Ryanair chose to make a powerful response without mincing language, with the rules proposed by EU261 nearing final confirmation. O’Leary contends that the decision by the EU Parliament will only harm the commercial aviation industry of Europe. The core of the argument is that bundling the cost of standard cabin bags into the baseline advertised price negatively affects the market perception of EU-based carriers when customers do a side-by-side comparison of the upfront numbers.

Ryanair argues that because 50% of its flyers choose not to bring a second cabin bag, the rule will unfairly prevent low-cost carriers from highlighting the cheapest ticket prices available. The airline says that the rules will artificially increase the apparent cost of booking with an LCC compared to a legacy full-service model airline. O’Leary told The Independent that the new law would add an estimated €8 ($8.50) to all ticket prices.

The Debate Over Delays: Carriers Versus ATC

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Another important point in the argument against the EU261 rules targeted in Ryanair’s press release was the unfair assignment of responsibility for delays. The airline argues that instead of forcing airlines to bear more costs for services that are not in demand, the Parliament should focus on reforming the air traffic control system. O’Leary stated that while airlines must pay out to customers when flights are delayed over three hours, more than 90% of those are caused by issues with the ATC system and not the airline.

Ryanair’s CEO lambasted the parliament for failing to address this issue, saying that the latest rules do nothing to improve the situation despite the problem being a persistent issue for years. He pointed out that the government-run ATC network does not compensate carriers for losses incurred by delays and flight cancellations that are beyond the control of the airline. The airline believes that adding new costs to the substantial taxation of intra-European operators will harm customers, as well as considering the lack of provisions to protect carriers from systemic problems in airport infrastructure or services.