Just 24 hours after confirming it would cut 400,000 seats in the Canary Islands and withdraw from Tenerife North Airport, Ryanair has announced a new customer-friendly policy: all passengers may now take larger carry-on luggage free of charge.
New Carry-On Dimensions
From Thursday, Ryanair allows passengers to carry one piece of hand luggage with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 20 centimetres, an increase of 33% compared to the EU standard (40 x 30 x 15 cm).
This luggage must fit under the seat in front of the passenger. Those who wish to bring an additional cabin bag can still purchase the airline’s Priority Boarding service.
Rollout Across European Airports
The airline confirmed that it has already installed new baggage sizers at 235 airports across Europe to reflect the change.
“As of today, Ryanair’s new free hand luggage allowance is 33% larger than the EU standard. We have modified the size of the baggage meters at all airports to accommodate this larger free hand luggage,” said Dara Brady, Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer.
A Reminder to Passengers
Brady also noted that passengers may opt to check in luggage during the booking process. He added a warning:
“We hope our customers will enjoy these larger free hand luggage allowances, but any passenger who does not comply with these new generous limits will be required to pay the baggage check-in fee at the boarding gate.”
Context: Capacity Cuts in Spain
The announcement comes immediately after Ryanair confirmed a 10% reduction in Canary Islands capacity this winter, equivalent to 400,000 seats, and the suspension of flights from Tenerife North. Overall, the airline is cutting over one million seats in Spain this winter, citing what it calls “excessive and uncompetitive charges” by airport operator Aena.
While Ryanair’s decision to reduce flight capacity has sparked concern among regional authorities and travellers in the Canary Islands, the expansion of its free carry-on policy is presented as a customer benefit. The airline hopes the change will improve the passenger experience, though compliance with the new dimensions remains essential to avoid extra fees.
