A Chamber of Deputies approved this Tuesday afternoon (21) the emergency regime for voting on the Luggage Bill (Bill). With the definition, the project is now underway with direct analysis in plenarywithout going through commission.
Authored by the deputy Da Vitória (PP-ES), the measure aims to ensure that air passengers can take one hand luggage and one personal item on domestic and international flights operated within the national territory, without additional costs.
“We can no longer bear so many fees and so many charges”, stated the text’s rapporteur, deputy Neto Carletto (Avante-BA).
After approval of the urgency, the deputy and president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), stated that the House will work with the rapporteur to “avoid this abuse of airlines”.
“We are now going to carry out construction work on this matter, together with rapporteur Neto Carletto, so that the Chamber of Deputies can prevent this abuse by airlines in the sense of wanting to create a way to generate extra income for hand luggage”, declared the president.
Hugo Motta also recalled former president Jair Bolsonaro’s (PL) veto of another project regarding luggage, in 2022.
After approval in Congress, the PL that proposed the return of free checked baggage was vetoed by the former head of state, on the grounds that banning the fee would increase the value of airline tickets.
“It is important to note that the National Congress has not approved a veto on checked baggage for many years. […] This project was blocked after approval in the Chamber and the Senate, under the argument that this charge would come from the reduction in charges for air tickets in Brazil.”
The president also reiterated that what happened was the opposite. According to Motta, “tickets are becoming more expensive every day and passengers, in addition to paying expensive tickets, also pay to check in their luggage.”
Understand the Baggage PL
The project guarantees passengers on domestic or international flights operated by airlines, when part of the trip takes place in Brazilian territory, the right to carry hand luggage without additional charge.
The consumer may take one hand luggage, within the regulatory limits of the Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency)and a personal item, such as a bag, backpack or briefcase, subject to the weight and dimension limits established by the regulatory authority.
Airlines are prohibited from offering fares that exclude or limit this right.
Charges will only be allowed when the bag exceeds the pre-established weight or dimension limits.
Furthermore, it will be up to Anac to publicize and monitor the rules, ensuring compliance by national or foreign companies. Failure to comply with the measure will subject the company to legal penalties and compensation to the consumer.
