Air passengers in Europe could soon receive clearer and stronger protections when flights are delayed or cancelled, following a political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
The planned reform represents the first major update of European air passenger rights in more than two decades. It is intended to make compensation easier to claim and to give travelers clearer information about their rights when their journeys are disrupted. However, the agreement must still complete the formal approval process before all of the new rules take effect.
Under the agreement, passengers would continue to qualify for financial compensation when they arrive at their destination more than three hours late, provided that the disruption was within the airline’s control. Earlier proposals had suggested extending the waiting period to four or even six hours, but those changes were not included in the final political compromise.
Compensation would remain connected to the distance of the flight. Passengers could receive 250 euros for flights of up to 1,500 kilometers, 400 euros for longer flights within the European Union or flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and as much as 600 euros for longer journeys.
Travelers would also retain the right to choose between reimbursement and another flight when their original service is cancelled. Airlines would be expected to explain these options clearly and provide passengers with simpler forms for requesting compensation.
The proposed rules also strengthen protections for people who purchase tickets through online platforms or travel agencies. When a flight is cancelled, passengers would be entitled to a full refund, including intermediary fees connected with the booking.
Families would receive additional protection. Adults traveling with children under the age of 14 would be allowed to sit beside them without paying an extra seating fee. The same principle would apply to people accompanying passengers with reduced mobility.
Airlines would also be prohibited from forcing travelers to download a mobile application simply to access a boarding pass. Passengers would still be able to use another accepted form of boarding document.
The reform also addresses cabin luggage and price transparency. A small personal item would remain free, while airlines would be required to clearly display any additional luggage charges during the booking process. The political agreement does not mean that every larger cabin bag will automatically become free.
These protections are particularly important for travelers from the Balkans who regularly fly through European Union airports or use European airlines to visit family members abroad. EU passenger rights generally apply to flights departing from an EU airport, as well as certain flights arriving in the EU when operated by an EU airline.
Passengers should keep their booking confirmations, boarding passes and receipts for meals, accommodation or transport when a flight is disrupted. These documents can be important when requesting reimbursement or compensation from an airline.
The agreement is expected to make the claims process more transparent, but passengers should remember that compensation is not normally required when delays or cancellations are caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather, security risks or other events outside the airline’s control.
