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PS11237-PS11272 - Cabin bag surcharge, ICA suspends Ryanair's and Wizz Air's new policies


PRESS RELEASE


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Following the opening of an investigation, ICA adopted interim measures to suspend the new cabin bag policy of the low-cost airline companies Ryanair and Wizz Air, which was due to enter into force on 1st November 2018.

According to the new policy, passengers will be allowed to carry for free one small personal bag, as long as it fits under the seat in front, whereas an extra charge will be applied to larger cabin bags. This is however a foreseeable contractual obligation for consumers and, as such, should be included in the standard price of the ticket.

As a consequence, the request for a surcharge for an essential element in the air transport contract, such as hand luggage is, misleads consumers with regard to the actual price of the ticket and distorts comparison with prices applied by other companies.

Ryanair and Wizz Air will have to temporarily cease any activity intended to require this extra charge - on top of the standard price- for “large cabin bags” and therefore they have to make the entire capacity created for hand luggage transportation in the aircraft -– either in the cabin or in the hold – available to consumers free of charge.

The two airline companies will have to inform the ICA of the measures they will have adopted in order to comply with the Authority’s decision within five days.

Rome, 31 October 2018