BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has given the green light to a comprehensive revision of air passenger rights, addressing delays, cancellations, baggage issues, and denied boarding. The Council of the European Union finalized the legislative process on July 13, 2026. The European Parliament had ratified the agreement six days prior. The vote concluded with 646 in favor, 12 against, and three abstentions. This overhaul marks the first significant update to EU air travel protections in over twenty years.
Passengers will continue to be entitled to compensation when flights arrive more than three hours late. The new rules also safeguard travelers against cancellations announced less than 14 days before departure. Passengers denied boarding can also be covered under these provisions. Compensation remains set at €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometres. For longer intra-EU routes and journeys up to 3,500 kilometres, it increases to €400. For eligible longer flights, compensation can amount to €600.
Airlines are permitted to reduce compensation by fifty percent on the longest routes if rerouted passengers arrive within four hours of the scheduled time. They are permitted to deny claims if extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption, such as severe weather, natural calamities, war, unruly passengers, or external strikes. Airlines are still required to provide assistance during covered disruptions, including refreshments, meals, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary hotel accommodations.
Streamlined claims procedure introduced
The regulation establishes a quicker, more organized process for handling claims from affected travelers. Airlines must send claim instructions electronically within four days after the journey’s conclusion. Passengers will have nine months to file a compensation claim. Airlines are obligated to acknowledge each claim promptly. They must then either pay the compensation or issue a detailed refusal within 30 days. If refusing, they must explain how the passenger can contest the decision.
Airlines are required to offer rerouting at the earliest available opportunity, possibly utilizing another carrier or suitable ground transport. If no suitable alternative arrives within three hours, passengers may arrange their own transportation. They are eligible for reimbursement up to four times the original ticket price. Carriers must provide comparable travel conditions and avoid unnecessary connections. They are also obliged to reimburse reasonable care expenses within 14 calendar days.
Protections for baggage and seating options expanded
All passengers will now be entitled to carry one personal item free of charge, including small backpacks, handbags, or laptop bags. Booking platforms must display fares that incorporate a hand baggage allowance upfront. Airlines may still offer cheaper tickets without such allowances. Additionally, carriers cannot cancel a return booking solely because the outbound flight was missed. They also cannot charge passengers for correcting simple spelling errors in their names.
Families traveling with children under 14 will be provided with adjacent seats at no extra cost. The regulations also reinforce assistance provisions for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Protections for mobility equipment, pregnant travelers, and unaccompanied minors are also expanded. These passenger rights apply to flights within the EU and all departures from EU airports, as well as arrivals operated by EU carriers. The regulation will take effect 12 months and 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.