Brazilian House Leaders Seek Urgent Vote to Ban Carry-On Charges

Overview

• Republicanos leader Gilberto Abramo filed an urgency request on October 20 to fast-track a bill prohibiting airlines from charging for a carry-on and a personal item, with a vote expected this week.
• If the urgency is approved, the proposal by Deputy Josias da Vitória will go straight to the plenary, and Chamber president Hugo Motta has pledged to put the matter on the agenda.
• The bill guarantees one free cabin bag within ANAC limits plus one personal item and forbids fare types that exclude this allowance, except when weight or size limits are exceeded.
• The draft requires ANAC to publish and update rules, inspect compliance, and expose violators to aviation penalties as well as consumer reimbursement for improper charges.
• Airline chiefs from Gol and Latam defended the international basic fare as a competitiveness measure common abroad, noting Gol’s rollout on routes such as Rio’s Galeão–Montevideo and that domestic flights are not affected.