BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has authorized its first comprehensive revision of air passenger rights in over twenty years. The Council of the European Union finalized the approval on July 13, following the European Parliament’s endorsement of the compromise on July 7. Lawmakers supported the measure with 646 votes in favor, 12 against, and three abstentions. The updated rules cover delays, cancellations, denied boarding, rerouting, passenger support, baggage, and airline liability. They will take effect 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Passengers will retain the right to compensation if flights arrive more than three hours late. The same protections apply when airlines cancel flights less than 14 days before departure or refuse boarding. Compensation remains at €250 for trips up to 1,500 kilometers. The amount increases to €400 for longer intra-EU flights and other journeys between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers. For longer trips, passengers may be eligible for €600 under the regulation.
Airlines can reduce compensation by 50% on the longest routes if rerouted passengers arrive no more than four hours late. Compensation can be denied when extraordinary circumstances cause the disruption. The regulation features an open list of such circumstances, including natural disasters, war, severe weather, unruly passengers, and certain external strikes. Airlines are still required to provide care during qualifying disruptions, including refreshments every two hours, a meal after three hours, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary overnight accommodations.
Simplified claims process and rerouting options
Passengers opting for reimbursement instead of rerouting will receive it automatically under the new rules. Airlines are mandated to send clear instructions for claims within four days after a disrupted journey ends. Travelers will have nine months to submit a compensation request. The airline must acknowledge the claim immediately and respond within 30 days, either paying the compensation or providing an explanation for the refusal along with details of the available complaint process.
Airlines are required to offer rerouting at the earliest opportunity, including through other carriers or suitable transport options. If a suitable alternative is not available within three hours, passengers may arrange their own route. They are entitled to reimbursement of up to four times the original ticket price. Carriers must ensure comparable travel conditions and cannot force multiple connections on a passenger who booked a direct flight. Expenses for necessary, reasonable, and proportionate care must be reimbursed within 14 calendar days.
Enhanced baggage and seating protections
The legislation introduces a passenger right to carry one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, free of charge. Booking sites must initially display fares that include a hand baggage allowance. Airlines may also offer lower-priced tickets for travelers who opt not to carry hand luggage. The rules prohibit cancellations of return journeys solely because the passenger missed the outbound flight, and they disallow charges for reinstating such bookings. Additionally, fees for correcting spelling errors in passenger names are banned.
Families traveling with children under 14 will be provided with adjacent seating at no extra cost. Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility will benefit from strengthened rights to assistance, rerouting, and compensation. The new framework also safeguards essential mobility equipment and extends protections to pregnant travelers and unaccompanied minors. EU passenger rights apply to flights within the EU, departures from the EU, and arrivals operated by EU airlines. This reform updates the rules in place since 2004, following a European Commission proposal issued in 2013.