Key facts
- European Parliament approved revised EU rules for air passengers.
- Passengers will retain the right to free cabin luggage.
- Financial compensation will be provided for flight delays of three hours or more.
- Airlines must display airfares inclusive of carry-on luggage.
- Passengers will not be charged for name spelling corrections.
- The new regulations are set to take effect in 2027.
The European Parliament has given its final approval to revised rules that will ensure air passengers continue to benefit from free cabin luggage and are entitled to financial compensation for flight delays of at least three hours. The decision follows over a decade of negotiations between EU lawmakers and member states.
Airlines have expressed concerns that the new regulations will lead to increased ticket prices, while passenger associations have welcomed the upholding of passenger rights.
The new text maintains the existing compensation structure, ranging from €250 to €600 for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, airlines will pay €300 for flights exceeding 3,500 kilometers if delayed by more than three hours, and €600 if the delay exceeds four hours or the flight is cancelled. Passengers will have a nine-month window to submit compensation claims, and airlines will have 30 days to process these claims or provide justification based on extraordinary circumstances.
The regulations also clarify policies on cabin baggage fees. Passengers are guaranteed the right to bring a free personal item measuring 40cm by 30cm by 15cm. This means airlines, including low-cost carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet, will be obligated to display airfares inclusive of carry-on luggage at the beginning of the booking process on intermediary and search portals. While airlines may offer lower fares for passengers who voluntarily choose to travel without hand luggage, they cannot charge additional fees for correcting minor name spelling errors. Furthermore, passengers will have the right to receive digital boarding passes upon check-in without needing to create user accounts or download specific applications.
The revision of the EU's passenger protection regulation began in 2013, with lawmakers advocating for enhanced baggage rights and stronger safeguards against delays, facing opposition from some EU countries and the aviation industry. The new rules are slated to take effect in 2027.