# Airlines can now charge for luggage: new EU regulation approved

Canonical-URL: https://notitur.com/en/digest/eu-parliament-baggage-airlines-regulation
Text-Version: https://notitur.com/en/digest/eu-parliament-baggage-airlines-regulation.txt
Markdown-Version: https://notitur.com/en/digest/eu-parliament-baggage-airlines-regulation.md
Language: en
Published: 2026-07-08T12:15:48.858Z
Modified: 2026-07-08T12:15:48.858Z
Author: Joan Sanz
Topics: Airlines
Summary: European Parliament approves baggage fees and strengthens passenger rights with up to €600 compensation for delays and cancellations.

## Article

Mixed news from Brussels. The European Parliament has approved the reform of air passenger rights with **646 votes in favor**. For the first time since 2004, the rules change. According to [Hosteltur's coverage](https://www.hosteltur.com/177386_la-nueva-normativa-sobre-los-derechos-de-los-pasajeros-que-implica-para-usuarios-y-aerolineas.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=la-nueva-normativa-sobre-los-derechos-de-los-pasajeros-que-implica-para-usuarios-y-aerolineas), two big shifts stand out.

First, airlines are now **explicitly allowed to charge for checked baggage**. The legal gray area is gone: if you bring a suitcase, you pay. Second, passenger protection gets stronger: **up to €600** compensation for delays, cancellations or overbooking. Airlines have **30 days** to pay or explain exceptions. The best part? Children under **14** can sit next to their parents at no extra cost.

The regulation takes effect **20 days after official publication**. My take: capping abuses is good, but legalizing baggage fees paves the way for low-cost carriers to keep unbundling everything. Still, with clear compensation rules, passengers gain real leverage. Now we'll see if airlines adjust base fares or get more aggressive on extras.

## Sources

- Hosteltur: https://www.hosteltur.com/177386_la-nueva-normativa-sobre-los-derechos-de-los-pasajeros-que-implica-para-usuarios-y-aerolineas.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=la-nueva-normativa-sobre-los-derechos-de-los-pasajeros-que-implica-para-usuarios-y-aerolineas

## Citation

Airlines can now charge for luggage: new EU regulation approved. Notitur. 2026-07-08. https://notitur.com/en/digest/eu-parliament-baggage-airlines-regulation