BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has approved a comprehensive update to air passenger rights, encompassing delays, cancellations, baggage issues, and denied boarding. The Council of the European Union finalized the legislative process on July 13, 2026, following the European Parliament’s endorsement six days earlier. The voting results were 646 in favor, 12 against, with three abstentions. This regulation represents the most significant overhaul of EU air travel protections in over twenty years.
Passengers will continue to be entitled to compensation if their flights arrive more than three hours late. These protections also apply to cancellations made less than 14 days before departure. Passengers who are denied boarding remain covered under the same provisions. Compensation amounts are set at €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 flights qualifying under these rules, payments of €600 may be issued.
Airlines have the option to reduce compensation by 50% on the longest routes if rerouted passengers arrive within four hours of the scheduled time. They can also deny claims if extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption. Such circumstances include severe weather, natural catastrophes, war, unruly passengers, and certain external strikes. Airlines are still required to provide care during covered disruptions, including refreshments, meals, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary hotel accommodations.
Improved claims procedure clarity
The new regulation establishes a more efficient and transparent claims process for affected travelers. Airlines must send claim instructions electronically within four days after the flight’s conclusion. Passengers will have nine months to submit their compensation requests. Airlines are required to acknowledge each claim promptly and either pay the compensation or issue a detailed reason for refusal within 30 days. If a claim is refused, the airline must also inform the passenger how to challenge the decision.
Carriers must offer rerouting options at the earliest opportunity, utilizing another airline or suitable ground transport. If no appropriate alternative arrives within three hours, passengers are permitted to arrange their own travel. They can request reimbursement up to four times the original ticket price. Airlines are obliged to provide comparable travel conditions and minimize unnecessary connections. Additionally, reasonable expenses for passenger care must be reimbursed within 14 days.
Enhanced baggage and seating rights
All passengers will have the right to carry one personal item free of charge, such as a small backpack, handbag, or laptop bag. Booking platforms are required to display fares that include a hand baggage allowance upfront. Airlines may still offer cheaper tickets that exclude this allowance. Passengers cannot have their return bookings canceled solely because they missed their outbound flight, nor can airlines charge extra for correcting minor spelling errors in passenger names.
Families traveling with children under 14 will be provided with adjacent seats at no additional cost. The rules also reinforce assistance for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, as well as expand protections for mobility equipment, pregnant travelers, and unaccompanied minors. These EU passenger rights apply to flights within the union, departures from EU airports, and arrivals operated by EU-based airlines. The regulation will become effective 12 months and 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.