EasyJet CEO Slams EU Free Cabin Bag Proposal as Fares and Delays Loom

EasyJet’s chief executive strongly criticised proposed EU rules granting passengers an extra free cabin bag.

Kenton Jarvis called the plan “crazy European legislation” that ignored aircraft cabin capacity limits. MEPs approved the proposal on January 21 as part of wider efforts to strengthen passenger rights.

The change would allow a personal item plus a seven-kilogram cabin bag at no extra cost.

Capacity Concerns and Delays

Jarvis warned aircraft cabins could only accommodate around 65% of full-size cabin bags. He said remaining bags would require gate removal and manual loading into the hold.

Manual bag offloading previously caused frequent boarding delays before airlines introduced bag fees. Jarvis said reintroducing the practice would harm punctuality and customer experience.

Higher Fares Likely

EasyJet earns significant revenue from optional extras, including cabin baggage fees. Jarvis said banning those charges would force airlines to spread costs across all tickets.

That change would raise base fares, including for passengers travelling with minimal luggage. He warned the policy would undermine low-cost travel across Europe.

Impact on France and EU Operations

Jarvis said EasyJet would likely apply any new rules across its entire fleet. He warned flights from France could face increased delays under the proposed changes.

EasyJet operates around 50 routes between France and the UK, with six French bases. The European Council must still approve the proposal before it becomes law. Discussions continued as airlines warned of operational and pricing consequences across the EU.