Brussels court ruling on Ryanair cabin baggage policy becomes final

A Brussels Enterprise Court ruling in favour of Ryanair has become final and binding after Belgian consumer group Test Achats/Aankoop confirmed it will not appeal the January 28 decision.

Key Points of the Judgment

• The Court found Ryanair’s cabin baggage policy complies with EU law, including Article 23 of Regulation 1008/2008.
• It confirmed that passengers are entitled to carry a free underseat bag of reasonable size and weight.
• The Court rejected claims that airlines must include a larger overhead cabin bag in the base fare.
• It relied on the precedent set by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Vueling case, affirming that larger carry-on bags may be treated as optional paid services.

Other Claims Dismissed

The Court also rejected challenges related to:

• Demand-based pricing
• Paid seat selection
• Family seating practices
• Presentation of baggage options

In each case, the Court found no breach of consumer protection or EU aviation law.

Broader Context

The ruling aligns Belgium with prior judgments in Italy, Germany, and Spain that upheld Ryanair’s model, allowing a free small personal bag while charging separately for larger cabin or checked baggage.

With no appeal filed, the decision is now legally binding in Belgium.