New legislation strengthens traveller protections with greater fare transparency, guaranteed family seating and simplified compensation claims, while airlines prepare for new compliance obligations
The European Parliament has approved a sweeping overhaul of the European Union’s air passenger rights legislation, preserving compensation of up to €600 for eligible flight delays and cancellations while introducing a series of new consumer protection measures aimed at making air travel more transparent, fair and passenger-friendly.
The revised framework, one of the most significant updates to European aviation consumer legislation in more than two decades, was adopted after over 13 years of negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, EU member states and the aviation industry.
The reforms maintain the EU’s globally recognised passenger compensation regime while addressing emerging issues such as hidden airline fees, family seating, accessibility and simplified claims procedures in an aviation landscape that has evolved dramatically since the original rules came into force in 2004.
Overwhelming Parliamentary Support
The legislation received overwhelming backing during a plenary session of the European Parliament, where Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted 646 in favour, with 12 against and three abstentions, following an agreement reached with the Council during the Conciliation Committee process.
Once formally approved by the Council in the final legislative stage, the regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, after which airlines and EU member states will have one year to implement the new requirements.
The updated regulation modernises the EU’s long-standing passenger rights framework to reflect profound changes in the aviation industry, including the rapid expansion of low-cost airlines, record passenger volumes and the growing prevalence of ancillary charges for optional travel services.
Compensation of Up to €600 Remains Intact
One of the most closely debated elements of the reform centred on compensation for delayed and cancelled flights.
Despite sustained lobbying from parts of the airline industry seeking lower compensation thresholds, lawmakers chose to retain the existing payment structure established under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, commonly known as EU261.
Under the revised rules, passengers will continue to be eligible for compensation when flights are delayed by more than three hours, provided the disruption falls within the conditions defined by the legislation and is not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Compensation levels remain unchanged:
- €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometres
- €400 for intra-EU flights exceeding 1,500 kilometres and for other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km
- €600 for flights longer than 3,500 kilometres
During negotiations, proposals reportedly sought to reduce compensation significantly, with some suggesting payments as low as €83 for certain disruptions.
However, Parliament rejected those proposals, describing the existing compensation framework as a cornerstone of European consumer protection.
Easier Access to Compensation
Beyond preserving compensation amounts, the legislation aims to make it considerably easier for passengers to exercise their rights.
According to the European Parliament, only around 10 per cent of travellers currently entitled to compensation successfully receive it, largely because of complicated procedures and limited awareness of their rights.
Under the new rules, airlines will be required to provide passengers with clear and accessible information explaining their rights and the compensation process.
Travellers will no longer be required to download dedicated mobile applications or create online accounts simply to submit a compensation claim.
Airlines must respond within 30 days, either by paying compensation or providing a detailed explanation if the claim is rejected because the disruption resulted from recognised extraordinary circumstances.
Clearer Definition of Extraordinary Circumstances
The legislation also introduces a more precise definition of the situations in which airlines may be exempt from paying compensation.
Recognised extraordinary circumstances include:
- Natural disasters
- Armed conflicts and war
- Severe weather conditions
- Major passenger safety or security incidents
- Strikes involving airports, air traffic control services or ground-handling providers
Lawmakers said the list has been deliberately kept limited and clearly defined to prevent airlines from relying on overly broad interpretations that could weaken passenger rights.
Greater Transparency in Airline Pricing
The revised legislation also targets one of the most frequent complaints among travellers—hidden charges that often appear late in the booking process.
Under the new rules, airlines and online booking platforms must display the total ticket price from the very beginning of the booking journey, including mandatory charges and applicable fees for cabin baggage.
Passengers will also be entitled to carry one personal item, such as a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack, free of charge, providing greater clarity over what is included in the advertised fare.
The measures are intended to improve price transparency and enable consumers to compare fares more accurately across different airlines.
Families to Benefit from Free Adjacent Seating
Families travelling with children will also receive stronger protections.
Under the revised regulation, children under the age of 14 must be seated next to an accompanying adult without additional charges.
The measure addresses a long-standing concern that some airlines have charged families extra fees to ensure parents and children can sit together.
Lawmakers said keeping families together should be considered a basic passenger right rather than an optional paid service.
More Rights for Passengers with Disabilities
The updated legislation significantly strengthens protections for passengers with disabilities and travellers with reduced mobility.
If inadequate airport assistance causes a passenger to miss a flight, airlines and airport operators will be required to provide appropriate assistance and compensation where applicable.
The new rules reinforce the EU’s broader commitment to ensuring accessible travel across all modes of transport.
Other Consumer-Friendly Measures
The legislation introduces several additional passenger protections, including prohibiting airlines from charging fees to correct minor spelling errors in passenger names.
Travellers also cannot be denied boarding solely because they present a printed boarding pass that was originally issued in digital format.
Together, these provisions aim to eliminate practices that lawmakers consider unfair or unnecessarily burdensome for consumers.
Airlines Warn of Higher Costs
European airlines have expressed concerns that the expanded passenger rights framework could increase operational costs and ultimately lead to higher airfares.
However, an assessment by the European Commission estimates that the overall financial impact would be relatively modest—approximately €1.80 per ticket.
Supporters of the legislation argue that the additional consumer protections significantly outweigh the limited increase in airline operating costs.
According to Virginijus Sinkevičius, the objective is to eliminate practices that create unfairness for passengers—including hidden charges and unnecessary barriers to accessing essential services—without placing an unreasonable burden on airlines.
A New Chapter for Passenger Rights
The updated legislation represents one of the most comprehensive reforms of European air passenger rights since the original regulation was introduced more than two decades ago.
By preserving compensation of up to €600, simplifying claims procedures, improving fare transparency and introducing stronger protections for families and passengers with disabilities, the European Union is reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading jurisdictions for consumer rights in aviation.
For millions of international travellers flying within, to or from Europe each year, the revised framework promises greater transparency, stronger legal protections and a more consistent travel experience as airlines prepare to implement the new rules over the coming year.
