New EU air passenger rights approved: what changes for travellers
‘When people take a plane, their rights will not be left behind on the ground’
Parents and accompanying guardians will no longer have to pay extra to sit with their children
Yaroslav Astakhov/Shutterstock.
The European Parliament has approved the previously agreed overhaul of EU air passenger rights, ending extra charges for families wishing to sit together, improving ticket price transparency, and making it easier for passengers to claim compensation.
These rights apply to flights within the EU, departing from the EU, or arriving in the EU from outside the EU when operated by an EU airline. They protect passengers regardless of nationality. The rules also apply to certain EU overseas territories as well as to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
The vote took place on Tuesday, between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, after 13 years of discussions on how to update rules first introduced in 2004.
“We are finally replacing uncertainty with clear rules, stronger rights and confidence,” Andrey Novakov, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the legislation said. “When people take a plane, their rights will not be left behind on the ground.”
Regarding compensation, passengers will continue to be able to claim compensation for flight delays of more than three hours, cancelled flights announced less than 14 days prior and denied boarding.
Compensation amounts remain between €250 and €600 depending on flight distance.Passengers may be entitled to €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and €600 for longer flights exceeding 3,500 km.
Airlines will still be able to refuse compensation in the event of circumstances outside of their control.These may include events such as natural disasters, war, severe weather conditions, unruly passengers, or strikes involving airports, air navigation services, or ground handling providers.
The new rules aim to make claims though easier for passengers.
Airlines will now have to provide clear instructions on how to request compensation within four days after a disrupted journey, and passengers will have nine months to request it.
Then, airlines can either pay compensation or explain why they are refusing within 30 days. In the latter case, details must also be provided on how passengers can complain.
“We worked hard to make sure passengers did not lose the rights they already had, while securing better protection for families, people with reduced mobility, and others who need it most,” Virginijus Sinkevičius, vice-chair of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee, said.
Luggage, spelling mistakes and family seating
One of the most significant changes is the removal of extra charges for seating children with their parents or guardian.
Airlines will now have to place children under 14 next to the person they are travelling with free of charge. Additionally, the same rules apply to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility and pregnant passengers.
The new rules also prevent airlines from charging passengers for correcting minor spelling mistakes in names or for printed boarding passes.
Before this rule, for example, correcting a passenger’s name with Ryanair (if the error was more than three characters) could cost up to around €110 online and €160 through customer service.
When it comes to carry-on luggage, its price will now have to be displayed with the ticket in all booking websites, promoting transparency. Airlines will only be allowed to offer cheaper fares to passengers choosing to travel without them on a later step.
The EPP Group (European People’s Party Group) said in a post published on X that the agreement would make air travel “fairer, clearer and more reliable”.
“The European Parliament has shown that protecting passengers and supporting a strong European aviation sector go hand in hand,” Mr Novakov said.
All passengers will also have the right to take one personal item, such as a small handbag or backpack, on board free of charge. The exact dimensions permitted should be checked with the carrier’s guidelines before travelling.
Finally, airlines will no longer be able to charge an additional fee for using the return leg of a ticket if a passenger did not take the first flight.
The changes still need to be formally confirmed by the Council of EU by the beginning of August before they become law. Then, once published in the Official Journal of the EU, they will enter into force 20 days later with EU countries and companies given one year to implement them.
