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Budget carriers have scored a big victory after the European Union's highest court ruled that airlines are allowed to charge passengers an extra fee for checked luggage.

The Court of Justice ruled today that 'checked-in baggage cannot be considered compulsory or necessary' for carrying passengers, thus granting carriers the right to charge a supplement.

Luggage surcharges coming on top of cheap air fares are common with Ryanair, easyJet and other budget airlines in Europe.

Extra fee: The court's ruling is a big win for European budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair

The court case centred on budget airline Vueling's challenge of a Spanish law that prohibits surcharges for checked luggage.

In their ruling, the Luxembourg-based judges said the Spanish law is in breach of EU rules because it prohibits airlines from charging for a 'complimentary service'. 

The 28-nation bloc's top court said a Spanish consumer court was wrong to fine Vueling Airlines – a codeshare with British Airways – more than £2,000 after a passenger complained about a luggage surcharge of £31 on a round-trip flight between Spain and the Netherlands four years ago.

Vueling Airlines declined to comment on the ruling.

The ruling favours budget airlines who offer a basic cost for flights with the option of paying a surcharge for checked luggage or other unbundled services. 

The EU's top court said a Spanish consumer court was wrong to fine Vueling Airlines for charging a fee 

Ryanair, Europe's largest budget airline, charges £15 to £75 per bag per one-way flight, depending on the weight of the bag, route, season and method of booking (online, by telephone or in person at the airport).

In a statement provided to MailOnline Travel, Ryanair said: 'We note the ruling and continue to abide fully with EU law.

'Just 20 per cent of our customers travel with checked-in baggage, while all Ryanair customers can bring two free bags onboard.'