A Russian senator has drafted a bill to prevent airlines from unilaterally dictating carry-on luggage weight and size restrictions. Senator Ayrat Gibatdinov plans to submit the legislation to the State Duma on Monday.

The bill seeks to ensure passengers can carry essential items without incurring extra charges, addressing concerns that airlines exploit their authority to set arbitrary carry-on dimensions.

The explanatory note accompanying the bill clarifies that the prohibition focuses on preventing airlines from independently establishing maximum baggage and carry-on sizes in a way that obstructs free carriage. The senator argues the bill will curb unfair practices by airlines related to carry-on luggage dimensions, and that the implementation of the law will not cause significant increase in air travel costs.

The senator emphasized that the Prosecutor General’s Office and judicial precedents have already deemed such abuses of power illegal. The proposed law aims to solidify this prohibition within the Air Code, preventing airlines from circumventing federal regulations through internal policies.

A recent court case supports the necessity of this legislation. The Shcherbinsky District Court of Moscow ruled in early June that Pobeda airlines must increase their allowed carry-on luggage dimensions and weight following a lawsuit filed by the Moscow Transport Prosecutor’s Office.