Key facts
- New EU air passenger rights rules were approved by the European Parliament and Council.
- The updated regulations will enhance passenger protections and price transparency from mid-2027.
- Compensation for flight delays of at least three hours and cancellations remain unchanged.
- Airlines must now provide clearer information on rights, standardized claim forms, and a 9-month claim window.
- Fees for name corrections and printed boarding passes after digital check-in are banned.
- Technical defects affecting flight safety are not considered extraordinary circumstances for airlines to avoid compensation.
The European Parliament has approved new air passenger rights rules, which will come into effect from mid-2027. These updated regulations aim to provide stronger protections and greater price transparency for air travelers.
The co-legislators reached a deal on June 15, with the Parliament approving it on July 7 and the Council on July 13. The European Commission had initially proposed updates in 2013, but negotiations stalled due to disagreements among member states. In June, the Parliament successfully pushed for stronger protections, including clearer reimbursement procedures, enhanced price transparency, and a ban on no-show flights.
Existing protections under Regulation EC 261, established in 2004, have been criticized for failing to deliver effectively. Passengers often struggle to claim compensation due to complex procedures, lack of proactive information, and difficult airline websites. Surveys indicate a significant portion of eligible passengers are unaware of their rights or do not receive compensation.
The new rules largely maintain existing compensation levels for flight delays of at least three hours, cancellations made less than 14 days before departure, and denied boarding. Reimbursement and rerouting options for cancellations are also preserved. Compensation amounts vary based on flight distance, ranging from €250 to €600.
Key improvements include clearer rights to refreshments and overnight accommodation during significant delays. Airlines must now provide passengers with clear information about their rights and the causes of disruptions within four days, along with standardized claim forms. Passengers will have a nine-month window to submit claims, and airlines must respond within 30 days.
For flights booked through third parties, cancellations will require a full refund within seven days, including intermediary fees. The rules also ban extra fees for correcting name errors or for printed boarding passes after digital check-in. Passengers with reduced mobility who miss flights due to airport service issues will be compensated, and children under 14, pregnant women, and PRM must be seated next to their accompanying persons free of charge.
Airlines can still refuse compensation in extraordinary circumstances, but the new rules provide an open list of such situations and require airlines to prove them and explain rejections. Notably, technical defects affecting flight safety are not considered extraordinary circumstances. To improve price transparency, airlines must now include the cost of a trolley bag in the basic ticket fare during the booking process.