Overhead luggage compartment for an aircraft

Upper luggage compartment (1) for an airplane, with an upper luggage compartment element (2), with a lower luggage compartment element (3) that can be moved between a closed position and an open position, with a device clamping (11) to hold the lower luggage compartment element in its closed position, with a lifting spring (9) to support the movement of the lower luggage compartment element (3) from the open position to the closed position, and with a retention device (16) to fix the lifting spring (9) in the state tensioned in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element (3), an actuation handle (15) being provided to release the retention device (16) in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element (3), characterized in that the lower luggage compartment element (3) can move from the position open towards the closed position, regardless of its loading state, optionally supported by the lifting spring (9) or with the lifting spring (9) fixed in the tensioned state.