Michael Bahlo (Bockfilm GmbH)/Courtesy of Airbus
The new “Airspace L Bins” from Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH, a subsidiary of ST Engineering and Airbus, promise 60% more space for hand luggage.
CNN –
In today’s not-so-golden era of domestic air travel, checking a suitcase for free is a luxury few can afford. And those who check in their luggage are often stressed throughout the entire trip and wonder whether their luggage will actually arrive with them at their destination.
That’s why more travelers than ever are choosing to pack their belongings in carry-on luggage – many of which are bulky and have wheels.
The result? Boarding for all as nervous fliers hover around the gate hoping to be among the first to board the plane – all to secure a small piece of overhead space near their seat.
Unfortunately, these sought-after containers were not designed for your average carry-on rolling suitcase. They must be laid flat, leaving a small, unusable space above them, but taking up a good portion of the container space.
This is where the French aircraft manufacturer Airbus and its new “Airspace L Bins” come into play.
First introduced in May, these specially shaped overhead bins promise 60% more carry-on space than traditional systems. How? Simply by allowing travelers to load their carry-on rolling bags vertically instead of having to lay them flat. (See the image above.)
The bins, which hold bags measuring 61 centimeters (height) x 38 centimeters (width) x 25 centimeters (depth), were designed to be retrofitted in three to five days.
According to Airbus, the ultralight composite retrofit reuses many parts of the original container, including the sidewall, ceiling and lighting, to reduce waste.
Flight attendants are also likely to approve of the new compartments, knowing they can handle boarding procedures while hearing far fewer complaints from passengers about not having room to stow their luggage.
Courtesy of Airbus
According to Airbus, the new Airspace L Bins were designed to be retrofitted in three to five days.
One airline has already registered. Starting in early 2025, German airline Lufthansa plans to begin retrofitting 38 A320 aircraft with the new Airspace L Bins, manufactured by Germany-based Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a subsidiary of ST Engineering and Airbus.
“From conversations with airline customers, we know that larger containers are a clear need to improve the passenger experience,” Charbel Youzkatli, head of commercial services for Europe at Airbus, said in a statement.
Luggage has long been a contentious and complicated issue in the aviation world, and larger containers or not, that doesn’t seem to be changing.
Not everyone brings carry-on luggage just to avoid additional checked baggage fees – many airlines charge extra if you also want to bring a suitcase on the plane. As mentioned above, some travelers appreciate the convenience of not having to wait at the baggage carousel for their suitcase upon arrival.
It is also a political issue. Just this week, European Union lawmakers reportedly voted for a resolution calling on airlines to stop charging passengers for “appropriate” size carry-on luggage.
But baggage fees are undeniably a big moneymaker for airlines. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. airlines generated more than $6.7 billion in baggage fee revenue in 2022.
Some airlines justify the fees based on the impact on the environment – lighter planes are more fuel efficient, so discouraging people from carrying a lot of extra weight is a good thing.
And proponents of “fare bundling” say it all works out – if you want to pay for extras like checked baggage, you can, and the rest of us enjoy cheaper fares.
Ultimately, however, regardless of travelers’ preferences, most agree that if better designed containers can reduce the time we spend getting on and off the plane, we’re all for them.