Cargo-in-cabin flights beyond 31 July are set to cease across the Europe Union, according to a recent announcement from the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The agency has determined that the exemptions delivered in this context will not be extended from August of this year. The same applies for existing approvals that have been granted based on the use of the deviation on transportation of cargo in passengers compartments. These new rules also apply to ‘any certification projects for which the approval is issued after that date.’

The use of the passenger cabin for cargo has been permitted for airlines since 2020, after the EASA issued approvals and exemptions on a case-by-case basis. These were time-limited, and although the agency extended the rules in August of last year, it will not prolong the timeframe this time.

In a statement on 11 April, the EASA concluded that ‘logistical challenges that arose in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 crisis no longer exist to the same extent.’