The European Parliament has approved revised rules on air passenger rights after more than a decade of negotiations with EU member states, according to EuroNews. The new legislation preserves passengers’ right to free cabin luggage and updates the rules governing financial compensation for flight delays and cancellations. The regulation will enter into force in 2027.
The legislation was approved by 646 votes in favour, with 12 against and three abstentions.
Compensation rules remain in place
According to EuroNews, passengers will continue to receive compensation when flights are delayed by at least three hours.
Under the new rules, airlines will pay:
- €300 for flights longer than 3,500 kilometres delayed by at least three hours;
- €600 if the delay exceeds four hours or if the flight is cancelled.
Passengers will have nine months to submit compensation claims, while airlines will have 30 days to either pay the compensation or demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances prevented them from doing so.
Free cabin luggage remains guaranteed
The regulation also clarifies the rules regarding cabin baggage.
Passengers will continue to be entitled to carry one free personal item measuring up to 40 x 30 x 15 centimetres.
In addition, airlines will be required to display, from the beginning of the booking process—including on comparison websites and booking platforms—the ticket price including cabin luggage.
However, carriers will still be allowed to offer lower fares for passengers who voluntarily choose to travel without carry-on baggage.
New digital rights for passengers
The revised rules also introduce additional passenger protections.
Airlines will no longer be allowed to charge fees for correcting spelling mistakes in passengers’ names.
Passengers will also have the right to receive digital boarding passes immediately after check-in without being required to create an account or use a dedicated mobile application.
According to EuroNews, the revision of the EU passenger rights regulation began in 2013 and follows years of negotiations between European institutions, member states and the aviation industry.
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