European Parliament strengthens air passenger rights rules

The European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism voted to update air passenger rights rules, which have been in effect since 2004, to ensure that travelers are adequately protected from travel disruptions such as denied boarding, delays, or flight cancellations.

This vote represents the Parliament’s draft response to the EU Council’s stance on air passenger rights from June 2025, CE Report quotes FENA.

According to the official EP website, committee members rejected the EU ministers’ proposal to weaken passenger rights. They want to maintain passengers’ rights to reimbursement or re-routing, as well as the right to compensation if a flight is delayed by more than three hours, canceled, or if boarding is denied (the Council’s position is that compensation should only apply after a delay of four to six hours, depending on flight distance).

MEPs also oppose reducing the amount of compensation for flight disruptions and propose keeping it between €300 and €600, depending on the flight distance (the Council suggests a range of €300 to €500).

The committee recognizes that airline liability for disruptions should be limited to situations under their control. The draft position therefore updates the list of extraordinary circumstances that exempt airlines from paying compensation, such as natural disasters, war, severe weather, or unforeseen labor disputes affecting the carrier, airport, or air traffic service providers. Members want this list to be comprehensive and request that the Commission regularly update it.

The obligation to provide passengers with refreshments every two hours of waiting, meals after three hours, and accommodation for up to three nights in case of long delays should remain mandatory under all circumstances, they add. Limiting accommodation to three nights gives airlines greater predictability and protects them from unlimited lodging costs in extraordinary situations.

MEPs insist that passengers must receive clear and timely information about baggage procedures. They also advocate for the right to bring on board, at no extra cost, one personal item (bag, backpack, or laptop) plus one piece of cabin luggage with maximum dimensions of 100 cm and weight up to 7 kg.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism pays special attention to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, as well as children, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and social responsibility, and the need for all passengers to travel with dignity.

Under the draft rules, these passengers should have the right to compensation, re-routing, and assistance from airlines if they miss a flight due to airport failures preventing timely access to the gate. Passengers with reduced mobility, pregnant women, infants, and children in strollers with a companion should have priority boarding, while companions should have the right to a seat next to them at no additional cost, the MEPs state.

Foto/ Belga