BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has authorized its most significant update to air passenger rights in over twenty years. The European Union Council granted final approval on July 13, following the European Parliament’s endorsement of the compromise on July 7. Lawmakers approved the legislation by 646 votes to 12, with three abstentions. These regulations cover issues such as delays, cancellations, denied boarding, rerouting, passenger assistance, baggage, and airline liability. They will come into effect 12 months and 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Passengers will retain the right to compensation if their flights are delayed by more than three hours upon arrival. The same protections apply when airlines cancel a flight less than 14 days before departure or refuse boarding. Compensation amounts are set at €250 for journeys up to 1,500 kilometres. For longer intra-EU flights and other trips between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres, the compensation increases to €400. For longer journeys, travelers may be eligible for €600 under the regulation.
Airlines can reduce compensation by 50% on the longest routes when rerouted passengers arrive no more than four hours late. They can also deny compensation if extraordinary circumstances cause the disruption. The regulation provides an open list of conditions including natural disasters, war, severe weather, unruly passengers, and certain external strikes. During qualifying disruptions, airlines are still required to provide passenger care, which includes refreshments every two hours, a meal after three hours, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary overnight accommodation.
Simplified claims process and rerouting options
Under the new system, passengers opting for reimbursement instead of rerouting will receive it automatically. Airlines are required to send clear instructions for claiming compensation within four days after a disrupted journey concludes. Travelers will have nine months to submit a claim. The airline must acknowledge the claim immediately and respond within 30 days, either by paying the compensation or explaining the refusal and outlining the available complaint procedures.
Airlines must offer rerouting at the earliest possible opportunity, including through other carriers or suitable transportation modes. If no appropriate alternative is 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 are obliged to provide comparable travel conditions and cannot force multiple connections on passengers who booked direct flights. Additionally, airlines must refund necessary, reasonable, and proportionate care expenses within 14 calendar days.
Enhanced baggage and seating protections
The law grants passengers the right to carry one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, free of charge. Booking platforms must initially display fares that include the hand baggage allowance. Airlines may also offer cheaper tickets to travelers who opt not to carry hand luggage. They are prohibited from canceling a return flight solely because the passenger missed the outbound flight, and they cannot charge a fee for restoring such bookings. The regulations also bar fees for correcting spelling errors in passenger names.
Families traveling with children under 14 will be entitled to sit together without additional costs. Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility will benefit from stronger rights to assistance, rerouting, and compensation. The 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 regulations in place since 2004, following a European Commission proposal issued in 2013.