Ryanair to boost free cabin baggage size ahead of the summer holidays

Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, Ryanair, has said it will increase its free cabin luggage allowance, set to be carried out in the coming weeks.

The budget air carrier currently allows a “personal bag” measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm, equating to a volume of 20 litres at no extra cost.

The new volume will increase to 24 litres while dimensions will change to 40 x 30 x 20cm, allowing holidaymakers to pack a little more.

Two Ryanair flights taxied on the runway following announcements it will increase its cabin baggage size. / Credit:

The change comes in response to an agreement made by European airlines to standardise the dimensions across various air carriers.

Ryanair’s allowance increase is larger than the newly announced European minimum luggage size of 40 x 30 x 15cm.

Ryanair confirmed it would be making those changes over the “coming weeks” ahead of the summer holidays.

A spokesperson for the airline said: “Ryanair’s current free ‘personal bag’ size is 40 x 25 x 20cm. Following the new EU minimum bag size of 40 x 30 x 15cm, Ryanair will increase its max ‘personal bag’ dimensions to 40 x 30 x 20cm, so that Ryanair’s ‘personal bag’ allowance is bigger than the EU standard.

“This change will be implemented over the coming weeks, as our airport bag sizers are adjusted.”

The trade body Airlines for Europe (A4E) has been in talks with Adina Valean, the EU transport commissioner in Brussels, about simplifying air travel for passengers.

It said all A4E airlines “will roll out the guaranteed dimensions and have them in place by the end of the 2025 summer season”.

Ryanair announced it will increase the size of cabin luggage which will be rolled out ahead of the summer holidays. / Credit: PA

A4E airlines include Ryanair, easyJet, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa Group.

Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of A4E, said: “This will align A4E members with the decision of member states made last month and bring more clarity to passengers across Europe.

“From city-hoppers to family travellers, everyone will benefit from the same clear rule across our members’ networks.”

British Airways, Jet2 and easyJet all exceed the baggage allowance announced by the A4E.

A spokesperson at easyJet confirmed to ITV News that its current luggage allowance will remain unchanged.

It appears Ryanair is the only major airline to make changes to their current allowance.

The change comes after MEPs voted last month for all airlines to allow passengers to carry both a personal item and one small hand luggage on board for free, which Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air strongly opposed because of impracticality.

The European Parliament said: “Passengers should have a right to carry on board one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm), and one small hand luggage (maximum dimensions of 100 cm and 7 kg) without an additional fee.”