BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has given the green light to its first comprehensive revision of air passenger rights in over twenty years. The final approval was granted by the Council of the European Union on July 13, following the European Parliament’s endorsement of the compromise on July 7. Lawmakers approved the measure with 646 votes in favor, 12 against, and three abstentions. The new regulations cover issues such as delays, cancellations, denied boarding, rerouting, passenger support, baggage, and airline liabilities. These rules will become effective 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 arrive more than three hours late. This protection also extends to situations where airlines cancel flights less than 14 days before departure or refuse boarding. Compensation amounts remain at €250 for trips up to 1,500 kilometers. For longer intra-EU flights and other journeys between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, the payout increases to €400. For journeys exceeding 3,500 kilometers, compensation can be up to €600 under the new regulation.
Airlines are permitted to reduce compensation by 50% for the longest trips when rerouted passengers arrive within four hours of the original schedule. They can also deny compensation if extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption. The regulation provides 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, which includes refreshments every two hours, a meal after three hours, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary overnight accommodations.
Simplified Claims and Rerouting Procedures
Under the new rules, passengers who opt for reimbursement instead of rerouting will receive it automatically. Airlines must send clear instructions for claims within four days after a disrupted journey concludes. Travelers will have nine months to submit a compensation claim. The airline must acknowledge receipt of the claim immediately and respond within 30 days, either paying the compensation or providing a clear explanation for any refusal, along with information about the available complaint process.
Airlines are required to offer rerouting options at the earliest possible opportunity, including arrangements with other carriers or suitable transportation methods. If no appropriate rerouting is provided within three hours, passengers may choose to organize their own alternative route. They are also entitled to reimbursement of up to four times the cost of their original ticket. Carriers must ensure comparable travel conditions and cannot impose multiple connections on passengers who booked direct flights. Reasonable and necessary care expenses related to disruptions must be reimbursed within 14 calendar days.
Enhanced Baggage and Seating Rights
The legislation introduces a right to carry one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, free of charge. Booking platforms are now required to display fares that include hand baggage allowances. Airlines may also sell cheaper tickets to travelers who choose not to bring hand luggage. The rules prohibit cancellations of return flights solely because a passenger missed the outbound journey, and they prevent airlines from charging fees to reinstate such bookings. Additionally, charges for correcting spelling errors in passenger names are banned.
Families traveling with children under 14 will be entitled to sit together at no extra cost. Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility will benefit from stronger assistance, rerouting, and compensation rights. The regulation 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. The reform updates the existing rules in place since 2004, following a European Commission proposal issued in 2013.