EU strikes deal on air passenger rights after 12 years, keeps three-hour delay payouts and mandates free family seating

What was decided

After 12 years of negotiations, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU settled on a package that updates rules unchanged since 2004. The provisional accord was confirmed on 15 June 2026 by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Cypriot transport minister Alexis Vafeades on behalf of the member states. Formal votes by the full Parliament and Council are expected in July.

Compensation rules preserved

A central battleground was the threshold for delay compensation. The Council had pushed to raise the trigger from three hours to four, but the final text keeps the existing three-hour mark. Passengers remain entitled to €250 for journeys up to 1,500 km, €400 for routes between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 for longer trips. If the delay is between three and four hours, airlines may halve the payout, or if they offer rerouting. Cancellations within 14 days of departure are also covered. Carriers can still avoid paying when delays stem from extraordinary circumstances, a non-exhaustive list of which includes natural disasters, war, weather, unruly passengers or strikes.

A provisional agreement is now in place to increase protections for travellers.

Seating, luggage and check‑in changes

Airlines must seat families with children under 14 together at no extra charge, a right that also extends to pregnant passengers, people with reduced mobility and their companions. Ticket prices will by default include a cabin bag, making comparisons easier, though carriers may still offer cheaper fares without hand luggage and charge for larger cabin items. The Parliament’s original push for a mandatory free small cabin bag and a standardised minimum size was dropped. Other new provisions ban forcing passengers to download a carrier’s app for a boarding pass, require free printed tickets for those who check in digitally and allow a free name correction on a booking.

Information and claims time limits

Airlines must now send passengers clear digital instructions on how to claim compensation within 95 hours of a disruption. Once a claim is filed, the airline must acknowledge receipt immediately and respond within 14 days, either paying the due amount or giving a reasoned refusal. Passengers have nine months to submit a claim after a delay or cancellation. The deal also prevents carriers from denying boarding on a return leg simply because the outbound flight was not taken.

Consumers can broadly welcome this reform. The agreement enshrines fundamental air passenger rights while putting an end to unfair practices.

Agustín Reyna, director general of the European consumer organisation BEUC, said his group had hoped for completely free hand luggage. He nonetheless called the result a win for price transparency, noting that showing the full fare upfront helps passengers avoid unexpected fees during booking.