The European Parliament approved, by an overwhelming majority, the reform of EU air passenger rights rules in Strasbourg, concluding negotiations that lasted 13 years.
The agreement, reached in June with the EU Council under the Cypriot Presidency, was passed with 646 votes in favour, 12 against and 3 abstentions.
The new rules retain the right to compensation for delays of more than three hours, despite pressure from some member states to raise the threshold.
What changes for passengers
Passengers will be entitled to €250 compensation for flights of up to 1,500km, €400 for intra-EU flights of more than 1,500km and for routes between 1,500km and 3,500km, and €600 for longer-distance flights. Compensation will be reduced by 50% on very long routes only if rerouting is offered and the arrival delay does not exceed four hours.
Airlines will be required to secure alternative transport in the event of cancellation or a lengthy delay. Passengers will have the right to arrange their own travel if the airline does not offer a solution within three hours, and to claim a refund of up to four times the original fare.
Children up to the age of 14 will be entitled to a free adjacent seat next to their accompanying adult, with the same right extended to persons with disabilities or reduced mobility, and to pregnant women, to sit next to an accompanying person. Passengers will also have the right to carry one personal cabin item free of charge.
The reform also provides for greater transparency in ticket pricing. The cost of cabin baggage will need to be shown upfront in the price, so that travellers can more easily compare offers from airlines and booking platforms.
At the same time, additional charges for minor spelling errors in a passenger’s name or for printing a boarding pass after check-in will be abolished. Airlines will also be required to provide a digital boarding pass without requiring an account to be created or a specific app to be used.
Deadlines for compensation and complaints
Passengers will be able to submit a compensation claim up to nine months after travel. Airlines will be required to respond and pay compensation within 30 days, or justify rejecting the claim.
In cases of cancellation or travel disruption, passengers will be informed of the compensation process within four days of the trip’s completion.
European Parliament rapporteur Andrey Novakov described the agreement as “a win for passengers and European aviation,” noting that the reform retains the three-hour threshold and strengthens airlines’ obligation to actively inform travellers.
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said this is the first comprehensive revision of air passenger rights in more than two decades.
Following approval by the European Parliament, final ratification by the EU Council is still needed, expected by early August. The new rules will enter into force 20 days after their publication in the EU’s Official Journal, while member states and airlines will have one year to adapt.