BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has approved a comprehensive update to 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 approved the agreement six days prior. The vote was 646 in favor, 12 against, with three abstentions. This new regulation signifies the first significant overhaul of EU air travel protections in over twenty years.
Passengers will continue to have the right to compensation if their flights are delayed by more than three hours upon arrival. The protections also apply to cancellations announced less than 14 days before departure. Passengers who are denied boarding are also covered under this framework. Compensation levels are €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometres, increasing to €400 for longer intra-EU routes and journeys up to 3,500 kilometres. For longer eligible flights, compensation can amount to €600.
Airlines are permitted to reduce compensation by 50% on the longest routes if rerouted passengers arrive within four hours of the scheduled time. They can deny claims if extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption, including severe weather, natural disasters, war, unruly passengers, and certain external strikes. Despite disruptions, carriers are still required to provide care, which includes refreshments, meals, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary hotel accommodations.
Streamlined Claims Procedure
The new rules establish a quicker, more organized process for handling claims from affected travelers. Airlines are now mandated to send claim instructions electronically within four days after the flight’s conclusion. Passengers will have nine months to submit their compensation claims. Airlines must acknowledge each claim promptly and either pay the compensation or provide a detailed refusal within 30 days. The refusal must also include information on how to challenge the decision.
Airlines are required to offer rerouting options at the earliest possible opportunity, which may involve another carrier or suitable ground transportation. If no appropriate alternative is available within three hours, passengers are entitled to arrange their own travel. They can seek reimbursement up to four times the original ticket price. Carriers must ensure comparable travel conditions and avoid unnecessary connections, and must reimburse reasonable care expenses within 14 calendar days.
Enhanced Baggage and Seating Rights
From now on, each passenger will have the right to carry one personal item free of charge, including a small backpack, handbag, or laptop bag. Booking websites must display fares that include a hand baggage allowance before purchase. Airlines may still offer cheaper tickets without this allowance. Airlines are also prohibited from canceling a return flight solely because the outbound flight was missed. Additionally, they cannot charge passengers to correct simple spelling errors in names.
Families with children under 14 will be entitled to seating next to each other at no extra cost. The regulations also provide increased assistance for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, as well as expanded protections for mobility equipment, pregnant travelers, and unaccompanied minors. These passenger rights apply to flights within the EU, all departures from EU airports, and arrivals operated by EU-based airlines. The regulation will take effect 12 months and 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.