Hand Luggage Fee Approval

Brussels has effectively sided with the airlines in a long-running battle over hand luggage fees. On June 12, 2026, EU member states and the European Parliament reached a deal that explicitly allows carriers to charge for overhead bin bags — as long as the price is shown from the first step of booking, according to Reuters.

The agreement is a major blow to Spain, which in November 2024 fined five airlines a combined €179 million for those very fees. Javier Gándara, president of the Spanish Airline Association (ALA), summed up the industry's position bluntly: