The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is reassessing its efforts to standardise the size of carry-on luggage.

The global airline association said it was pausing the rollout of its Cabin OK initiative in light of concerns expressed in the US.

The Cabin OK initiative was launched on June 9 with the aim of providing passengers with greater assurance that their carry-on bags will travel with them in the aircraft cabin, even when the flight is full.

The initiative, which provides a voluntary option of using a Cabin OK labelled bag (with optimally sized dimensions of 55 x 35 x 20 cm or 21.5” x 13.5” x 7.5" inches), has garnered intense interest by many, but there has also been much confusion as significant concerns have been raised by media and key stakeholders in the US.

In a statement released by Iata, it reiterated the key principles of the Cabin OK initiative stating it is a guideline for an optimally sized cabin bag and not an industry standard. Cabin OK does not seek to define a maximum size for carry-on bags, which is something each airline does individually. And no consumer will be forced into buying a new bag as a result of this voluntary initiative, it said.

“This is clearly an issue that is close to the heart of travellers. We need to get it right,” said Tom Windmuller, senior vice president, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security. – TradeArabia News Service