**Air Passengers to Gain Better Protection Under New EU Regulations**
In a significant development for air travel, members of the European Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve comprehensive changes to air passenger rights. The new regulations, which received overwhelming support with 646 votes in favor, 12 against, and 3 abstentions, aim to enhance compensation processes and improve transparency for travelers. This update marks the first major revision of the existing framework since it was established in 2004.
Under the new regulations, passengers will maintain their rights to refunds or re-routing in the event of flight cancellations. Additionally, compensation will still be available for delays exceeding three hours and for cases where boarding is denied. The compensation amounts are structured based on the distance of the flight: €250 for journeys up to 1,500 kilometers, €400 for EU flights exceeding 1,500 kilometers or other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and €600 for long-haul flights. Airlines can reduce compensation by 50% for long-haul flights if they offer alternative transport that results in an arrival delay of no more than four hours.
Exemptions to these compensation rules will only apply in extraordinary circumstances beyond an airline's control, including natural disasters, wars, adverse weather conditions, unruly passengers, or strikes affecting airports and air navigation services. Regardless of the cause of a delay, airlines are now mandated to provide refreshments, meals, and up to three nights of accommodation for stranded passengers.
One of the key improvements in the new regulations is the simplification of the refund process. Passengers opting for a refund over re-routing will benefit from automated payments, and airlines must provide clear guidance on claims within four days of the journey's conclusion. Travelers will have a nine-month window to submit compensation claims, and airlines are required to respond to these claims within 30 days, either by issuing payment or justifying any refusal based on extraordinary circumstances.
The regulations also introduce new rights for passengers regarding their travel itineraries. For instance, travelers can now use a return flight even if they did not take the outbound leg. Additionally, the carriage of a small personal item as hand luggage is guaranteed at no extra cost. To enhance price transparency, all costs, including those for hand luggage, must be displayed from the outset of the booking process. However, airlines may still offer lower fares for passengers who choose not to travel with cabin bags.
Other consumer protection measures include the elimination of fees for correcting spelling errors in names and the provision of digital boarding passes without the need for a user account or specific application. Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility are now assured compensation and re-routing if they miss a flight due to failures in airport assistance.
Families and vulnerable groups will also see enhanced support under the new regulations. Airlines are now required to seat children under the age of 14 next to their accompanying adult at no extra charge. This policy extends to pregnant women and individuals with reduced mobility as well.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, expressed optimism about the new regulations, stating, “We have good news for everyone who takes the plane; we worked hard to ensure that passengers will not lose the rights they already had, ensuring at the same time better protection for families, individuals with reduced mobility and others who need it most.”
Andrey Novakov, the rapporteur for the regulations, emphasized the significance of this vote, calling it a victory for both passengers and the European aviation sector. “After more than 13 years of deadlock, we are finally replacing uncertainty with clear rules, stronger rights, and confidence; when people take a plane, they will not leave their rights behind,” he remarked.
Following this parliamentary approval, the agreement will need to be formally ratified by the Council by early August 2026. The new regulations will come into effect 20 days after their official publication, with member states and airlines granted a one-year period to prepare for full implementation.
This overhaul of air passenger rights is expected to significantly enhance the travel experience for millions of passengers across Europe, providing them with clearer guidelines and stronger protections in the event of disruptions.