Ryanair Ceo Slams Meps’ Proposal For Two Free Cabin Bags, Warning Of Delays And Longer Security Lines At European Airports

Published on November 3, 2025

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has expressed beardown guidance to a connection put distant by Members of nan European Parliament (MEPs), which would require airlines to let passengers to bring 2 free pieces of compartment manus luggage onboard. O’Leary based on that nan scheme is unworkable and could lead to important operational issues, including flight delays and longer information queues astatine airports.

O’Leary’s Concerns About nan MEPs’ Cabin Baggage Proposal

According to O’Leary, Ryanair already permits half of its passengers, those pinch priority boarding, to transportation a 2nd free carry-on bag. However, he pointed retired that this is astir nan maximum capacity that tin beryllium accommodated connected committee Ryanair’s aircraft. He criticized nan MEPs’ proposal, stating that they had grounded to see nan constricted abstraction connected craft for 2 free bags per passenger. The CEO besides took purpose astatine nan MEPs, calling them a “bunch of clowns” for pushing for nan caller norm without afloat knowing its applicable implications.

O’Leary emphasized that pinch 189 passengers connected a emblematic Ryanair flight, nan craft simply does not person capable room for 2 free bags for each traveler. The airline’s fleet, though efficient, has abstraction constraints, and introducing nan projected changes could disrupt nan operational travel of flights.

Impact connected Airport Operations and Security

The Ryanair CEO further warned that enforcing nan caller norm would lead to huge queues astatine airdrome security checks arsenic passengers would beryllium forced to navigate pinch more baggage. The process of screening larger amounts of luggage would slow down information procedures, resulting successful longer waiting times for each passengers. O’Leary stressed that this would person a domino effect, causing delays and operational bottlenecks.

In summation to delays astatine nan information checkpoint, nan connection would lead to much baggage being offloaded astatine nan gate. If bags do not fresh successful nan aircraft’s overhead compartments, they would request to beryllium placed successful nan hold. This would origin further delays arsenic baggage would request to beryllium tagged and processed, perchance causing flight slots to beryllium missed and resulting successful moreover much disruption to hose schedules. O’Leary’s concerns bespeak nan complexity of managing businesslike operations successful nan highly competitory and time-sensitive hose industry.

MEPs’ Proposal for Two Free Cabin Bags

The MEPs’ scheme would let passengers to transportation 1 individual item, specified arsenic a laptop aliases handbag, free of charge, arsenic agelong arsenic it fits nether nan spot successful beforehand of them. Additionally, they are advocating for passengers to beryllium allowed to transportation a mini portion of manus luggage weighing nary much than 7kg without incurring further fees. The connection is portion of an ongoing effort by nan European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee to protect and grow passenger rights, which could see changes to flight compensation rules for delays and cancellations.

The projected changes are portion of a broader activity to guarantee that travelers person much benefits and authorities erstwhile flying. However, airlines for illustration Ryanair reason that these changes would yet lead to operational disruptions and higher costs for travelers.

O’Leary’s Critique of European Leadership

In summation to criticizing nan MEPs, O’Leary besides directed his disapproval astatine European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who he claimed had grounded to enactment connected a cardinal study by erstwhile European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. The competitiveness report, prepared complete a twelvemonth ago, recommended important changes to nan EU’s aviation assemblage to amended ratio and heighten competitiveness.

O’Leary has antecedently called for von der Leyen to return action connected this report, stating that her deficiency of activity connected nan rumor has hindered advancement successful nan European aviation industry. The CEO’s vexation pinch nan European activity is besides reflected successful his comments connected Dublin Airport’s capacity cap, which he views arsenic a hindrance to growth. O’Leary suggested that Irish politicians, specified arsenic those progressive successful Dublin Airport’s issues, should measurement down if they are incapable to reside these concerns.

Ryanair’s Strong Financial Results

While O’Leary voiced concerns complete imaginable regulatory changes, he besides highlighted that Ryanair’s financial performance remains strong. The hose precocious reported its second-quarter results, showing a 20% increase successful profit aft tax, which reached €1.72 billion for nan 3 months ending successful September 2025. Revenue for nan play besides roseate by 8% to €5.48 billion.

For nan first half of nan financial year, Ryanair’s profit aft taxation accrued by 42%, reaching €2.54 billion. Passenger numbers for this play grew by 3%, pinch a full of 119 million travelers choosing Ryanair. Additionally, mean fares roseate by 13%, benefiting from a beardown Easter recreation period, fare recovery, and weaker year-on-year comparatives.

Ryanair’s Resilience Amidst Challenges

Ryanair’s resilience successful nan look of manufacture challenges is reflected successful its expertise to navigate some regulatory pressures and marketplace fluctuations. Despite nan turbulence caused by nan ongoing statement complete baggage policies and EU regulations, Ryanair continues to present beardown financial results and turn its rider base. O’Leary’s stance connected nan two free compartment bags proposal is suggestive of his broader attack to managing Ryanair’s operations efficiently, ensuring that customer needs are met while maintaining operational effectiveness.

Conclusion: The Future of European Air Travel

As nan statement complete compartment baggage regulations continues, Ryanair remains committed to offering low-cost, businesslike aerial recreation to its customers. While MEPs push for changes that they judge will use passengers, Ryanair and different airlines will apt proceed to advocator for operational policies that let them to support punctuality, minimize delays, and support costs debased for travelers. The solution of these issues will person lasting effects connected nan early of European aerial travel, pinch airlines for illustration Ryanair navigating nan equilibrium betwixt customer work and businesslike operations.

[Source: Irish Independent]