Budget airline Ryanair is set to make major changes to cabin baggage allowances this year in response to an attempt by the Commission to standardize European airlines. Today, Europe's largest low-cost airlines offer 20 liters of volume, with a 40 x 25 x 20cm bag on board without charging.
However, all of this is set to change at the end of October 2025. From the start of the winter aviation season, the new dimensions of the luggage will be 40 x 30 x 15cm, allowing for just 18 liters of volume. Ryanair's member, European Airlines (A4E), is in discussion with Brussels Transport Commissioner Adina Verrine about making it easier for passengers to travel. The organization claims that “all A4E airlines will deploy guaranteed dimensions and install them by the end of the summer 2025 season.”
“We are pleased to announce that A4E's Managing Director, Oulania Georgoutsakou:
“Everyone, from city hoppers to family travelers, will benefit from the same clear rules across their network of members.”
That being said, most careers continue as before. British Airways, Jet2, and EasyJet all currently have allowances beyond the new “standardized” dimensions. According to the Independent, a spokesman for EasyJet confirmed that the dimensions remained the same, giving it a maximum volume of 32 liters, remaining 45 x 36 x 20cm. Ryanair appears to be the only major airline to make changes.
However, not all agree to this change. Critics warn that the change will lead to an increase in ticket prices for planes. On top of this, most airlines don't have the overhead locker capacity to allow all passengers to have a cabin bag.
Georgoutsakou told Politico:
The news featured three of the UK's most popular airlines, Ryanair, EasyJet and Withaair, in the test, to see which university-wide layouts offer the most legroom. Both Wizzair and EasyJet use A320 planes, while Ryanair operates on a Boeing 737 aircraft. All these aircraft and airlines have seatbacks fixed and do not recline.
