Airplanes, flying will never be the same again: from liquids to pets in the cabin. But the rules aren't the same for everyone.

Summer 2025 will bring several changes for those traveling by air from Italian and European airports. Among the main changes, ENAC has eliminated the requirement for passengers to show their personal documents along with their boarding pass at the gates. This means that, starting this summer, it will no longer be necessary to show a passport or identity card to board a flight, a measure designed to speed up boarding procedures.

Starting July 26, it will also be possible to carry liquids in containers larger than 100 ml in your carry-on luggage without having to remove them at security. This will be possible thanks to new-generation scanners capable of precisely analyzing the contents of your luggage. However, this option only applies to airports equipped with this technology, such as Milan Malpensa, Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Bergamo, Catania, Bologna, and Turin . Anyone transiting or departing from airports without these scanners will still have to comply with the old rules, risking having to check in their luggage or leave liquids and perfumes at security.

Regarding pets, an ENAC resolution last May authorizes the transportation of animals weighing more than 8-10 kg in the cabin, provided they travel in suitable carriers secured to the window seat. This measure, however, is voluntary and it is up to each airline to decide whether to implement it, establishing its own fees and regulations. This may lead to some carriers continuing to ban large animals.

Finally, the European Parliament's Transport Committee approved a proposal that guarantees passengers the right to bring two personal bags on board free of charge . The second bag, however, must be smaller, with overall dimensions of 100 cm and a maximum weight of 7 kg.

However, there are some critical issues. Eliminating the requirement to show ID at the gate could compromise security, encouraging situations where a passenger flies with a boarding pass that isn't theirs or whose appearance is altered. Differentiating airports for the transportation of liquids can cause inconvenience and confusion. The new rules regarding animals are also a source of uncertainty, as they are not uniform across airlines. Furthermore, the European Union is considering changes that would reduce compensation for flight delays by increasing the time limit for claiming compensation, to the detriment of passengers.