BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The European Union has approved a comprehensive update to air passenger rights that addresses delays, cancellations, baggage issues, and denied boarding. The European Union Council finalized the legislative process on July 13, 2026. The European Parliament approved the deal six days prior. The vote was passed with 646 votes in favor, 12 against, and three abstentions. This regulation represents the first significant overhaul of EU air travel protections in more than twenty years.
Travelers will continue to have claims to compensation if their flights arrive at their destination more than three hours late. The protections also extend to cancellations announced less than 14 days before departure. Passengers who are denied boarding are also covered under this framework. Compensation remains €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometres. It increases to €400 for longer intra-EU routes and eligible journeys up to 3,500 kilometres. For longer flights that qualify, payments of €600 may be triggered.
Airlines may reduce compensation by fifty percent for the longest routes if rerouted passengers arrive within four hours of the scheduled time. Carriers are permitted to deny claims when extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather, natural disasters, war, unruly passengers, or external strikes, caused the disruption. Nonetheless, airlines are still required to provide care during covered disruptions, including refreshments, meals, internet access, two phone calls, and necessary hotel accommodations.
Streamlined claims process introduced
The new regulation establishes a faster, more organized claims process for affected travelers. Airlines must send claim instructions electronically within four days after the journey concludes. Passengers will have a period of nine months to submit their compensation requests. Airlines are required to acknowledge each claim promptly and either pay the amount or issue a detailed refusal within 30 days. When refusing a claim, the airline must also explain how the passenger can challenge the decision.
Carriers must offer rerouting options at the earliest possible opportunity, which may involve using another airline or appropriate ground transport. If no suitable alternative arrives within three hours, passengers are entitled to arrange their own journey. They can request reimbursement up to four times the original ticket cost. Airlines must provide comparable travel conditions and avoid unnecessary connections. They are also required to reimburse reasonable care expenses within 14 calendar days.
Enhanced baggage and seating rights
All passengers will have the right to carry one personal item free of charge. This may include a small backpack, handbag, or laptop bag. Booking platforms must display fares that include a hand baggage allowance before purchase. Airlines may still offer cheaper tickets without this allowance. Carriers are prohibited from canceling return bookings solely because the outbound flight was missed. Additionally, they cannot charge passengers to correct simple spelling errors in their names.
Families traveling with children under 14 will be guaranteed adjacent seating at no extra cost. The new rules also bolster assistance for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, and expand protections for mobility equipment, pregnant travelers, and unaccompanied minors. EU passenger rights apply to flights within the EU, departures from EU airports, and arrivals operated by EU-based airlines. This regulation will take effect 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.