European Parliament stands behind air passenger rights 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

MEPs want to maintain a traveller’s right to compensation for a three-hour delay while also pushing for simpler reimbursement procedures and free cabin luggage.

On Wednesday, European Parliament adopted its position (632 votes to 15 and with nine abstentions) on a revision of EU air passenger rights rules changes suggested by EU member states in June 2025. MEPs voted against a push by EU ministers to weaken air passenger rights, which have been in force since 2004 and the purpose of which are to ensure passengers are sufficiently protected against travel disruption.

Securing existing rights

MEPs want to maintain the right for air travellers to be reimbursed or re-routed and to claim compensation if a flight is delayed by more than three hours, if it is cancelled, or if they are denied boarding. The Council is pushing for compensation to apply only after a four-to-six-hour delay, depending on the flight distance.

Parliament is also against decreasing the current compensation amounts for flight disruptions and suggests they should be set at between €300 and €600 depending on the flight distance. Member state governments want to set compensation at between €300 and €500.

With the responsibility of airlines limited to situations within their control, Parliament wants to renew the list of the extraordinary circumstances that would allow them to waive their responsibility to pay compensation, circumstances which currently include natural disasters, war, weather conditions or unforeseen labour disputes affecting the air operator, airport or air navigation service provider. MEPs want this list to be exhaustive and for the Commission to update it regularly.

The duty to provide stranded passengers with refreshments every two hours beyond the initial departure time, a meal after three hours, and an overnight stay of a maximum of three nights for long delays, should be retained in all circumstances, MEPs agree with the Council. The three-night limit would, they argue, offer airlines greater predictability and spare them undue financial costs.

Faster and simpler reimbursement

MEPs want the introduction of pre-filled forms for compensation and reimbursement requests, to simplify claims processing and help passengers and airlines avoid the use of claims agencies. According to the draft rules, air carriers would need to send passengers experiencing travel disruptions (cancellation or delays) a pre-filled form within 48 hours of the incident (Council’s position requires a pre-filled form only after cancellation, not after long delays). Travellers would then have one year to file a request.

Strengthening traveller protection

Parliament wants passengers to have the right to carry with them onto the airplane, at no additional cost, one personal item (such as a handbag, backpack or laptop) and one small piece of hand luggage with maximum dimensions of 100 cm (combined length, width and height) and seven kilograms.

MEPs also want to scrap the additional fees travellers are sometimes forced to pay for correcting passenger name errors or for checking into their flight. Passengers should retain the right to choose between digital and paper boarding passes, they add.

Vulnerable passengers

MEPs also pay special attention to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. These travellers should have the right to compensation, rerouting and assistance by airlines if they miss a flight due to airport’s failure to help them reach the gate on time, the text says. Passengers with reduced mobility, pregnant women, infants, and children in a pram with an accompanying person should be given priority when boarding, while their accompanying persons should be seated in an adjacent seat without incurring extra charges.

Quote

Rapporteur Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG) said: ”Parliament is ready to continue the fight for clearer and more predictable rules for airlines and a stronger aviation sector, but not at the expense of passengers. Our baseline is clear: we are determined to improve rather than dilute air passenger rights. We insist that reducing delays has significant overall benefits for Europe’s economy. Therefore, the three-hour threshold for compensation, the existing compensation levels, pre-filled forms and enforceable safeguards remain our red lines. We are counting on EU transport ministers to reconsider their position so that together we may find a mutually acceptable outcome. Citizens expect us to deliver.”

Next steps

Under the second reading procedure Parliament’s position will be sent to the Council. If the Council does not accept all of Parliament’s amendments, a so-called “Conciliation Committee” will be convened to find an agreement on the final shape of the bill.

Background information

Since Parliament made proposals on air passenger rights reform in 2014, the progress to update these rules has stalled for 11 years in Council. In June 2025, however, EU ministers reached a political agreement, opening the way for negotiations with Parliament. The interinstitutional talks started in October 2025, but the negotiations did not result in an agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position.