The European Parliament has given final approval to a major overhaul of European Union airline passenger rights rules, introducing new protections designed to make air travel more predictable for families, vulnerable travellers and passengers affected by delays or cancellations.
The reform, negotiated for more than a decade between European institutions and member states, was approved by an overwhelming majority in Strasbourg. The updated rules will allow children and vulnerable passengers to sit next to their parents or designated companions without paying additional fees, while preserving compensation rights for passengers facing significant flight disruptions.
The legislation represents one of the most extensive revisions of EU air passenger protections since the current framework was introduced. It maintains financial compensation for delayed flights after three hours of waiting and establishes clearer requirements for airlines regarding seating, baggage, refunds and assistance during travel disruptions.
The new rules confirm that passengers will continue to receive compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros depending on the length of the delay and the distance of the journey. The issue had been one of the most contested elements of negotiations, with member states seeking greater flexibility in the compensation system.
European lawmakers highlighted the protection of existing passenger rights as one of the main achievements of the reform. Virginijus Sinkevicius, vice-president of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, said after the vote that the agreement would provide stronger safeguards for families, people with reduced mobility and those requiring additional assistance.
The reform, initially proposed by the European Commission in 2013, remained blocked for years before negotiations progressed. The final agreement was approved by the European Parliament with 646 votes in favour, 12 against and three abstentions, reflecting broad support among lawmakers.
The Council of the European Union is expected to formally ratify the legislation in early August. Once approved, the regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, airlines and member states will have a further year to prepare before the new rules become applicable.
One of the central changes concerns seating arrangements for families and vulnerable passengers. Airlines will be required to place adults accompanying children under the age of 14 next to them without charging an additional fee. The same protection will apply to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, as well as pregnant passengers who require assistance.
The regulation also introduces new requirements on baggage transparency. Passengers will have the right to bring one personal item, such as a small handbag or backpack, onto aircraft without paying extra. For cabin luggage, airlines and travel operators will have to clearly show ticket prices including the cost of carry-on baggage, although they will still be allowed to offer cheaper fares to passengers who choose to travel without cabin luggage.
The updated rules also address how airlines handle passengers affected by delays and cancellations. Carriers will continue to have a duty to provide assistance to travellers stranded temporarily due to disruptions. Passengers must receive access to drinks after two hours of waiting, food after three hours and, in cases of major delays, hotel accommodation for up to three nights when the disruption is not the airline’s responsibility.
At the same time, the regulation updates the list of “extraordinary circumstances” that can exempt airlines from paying compensation. These include events outside the airline’s control, such as natural disasters, wars, severe weather conditions, disruptive passengers and strikes affecting airports, air navigation services or ground handling providers.
However, airlines will not automatically avoid all obligations during such situations. The duty to assist passengers who are left without transport will remain in place, even when compensation payments are not required.
The reform also introduces changes aimed at simplifying administrative procedures. Airlines will be required to provide faster and easier refund processes, while passengers will no longer be charged for correcting spelling mistakes in booking names or for receiving a printed boarding pass if they have already completed online check-in.
Another significant adjustment concerns compensation reductions for some long-distance journeys. Airlines may reduce compensation by 50% if they provide alternative transport to the passenger’s final destination following a disruption or if the arrival delay does not exceed four hours.
The agreement marks the conclusion of years of negotiations over how to balance passenger protection with the operational challenges faced by airlines. European lawmakers have argued that the revised framework provides greater clarity for travellers while creating clearer obligations for aviation companies.
Andrey Novakov, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the file, described the approval as a turning point after years of uncertainty. He said the new rules would ensure that passengers’ rights remain protected when they travel by air.
With final approval from the Council expected soon, the updated passenger rights regulation is set to become a new standard for air travel across the European Union, with airlines and governments now preparing for its implementation over the coming year.
