New air passenger rights in the European Union are expected to clear their final hurdle on Monday, when ministers from EU member states are set to formally approve the reforms after they already received backing from the European Parliament.
The new rules are due to take effect in mid-2027 and will grant additional rights to families and passengers with disabilities.
Children under the age of 14 will be entitled to sit next to their parents on flights without paying seat reservation fees. The same right will apply to pregnant passengers and people with reduced mobility travelling with a companion.
Airlines will also be required to correct spelling mistakes in passengers’ names on tickets free of charge and provide printed boarding passes to checked-in passengers without additional fees.
The rules governing compensation for delayed and cancelled flights will remain largely unchanged, following lengthy disagreements between EU member states and the European Parliament over the issue.
Clearer rules for disrupted journeys
Passengers will continue to be entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed by at least three hours, with payments remaining at €250, €400 or €600 depending on the distance travelled. The same thresholds will continue to apply to flights cancelled less than 14 days before departure, provided the disruption was within the airline’s control.
Under the rules, airlines would not be considered at fault for incidents involving unruly passengers, weather conditions, natural disasters or strikes by airport or ground-handling staff.
Flight providers will be required to display fares including cabin baggage by default, making it easier for passengers to compare ticket prices. Airlines will still be allowed to offer cheaper fares to travellers who voluntarily choose to fly without larger cabin bags.
The reforms are also intended to make compensation claims easier. Airlines will be required to inform passengers of their rights in writing within 96 hours of the end of their journey. Travellers will have nine months to file a claim, while airlines must pay compensation or explain a refusal within 30 calendar days.
The package also clarifies passengers’ rights during travel disruptions, including access to refreshments, meals, accommodation and alternative transport where required. It introduces new protections for passengers who miss the outbound leg of a return ticket, allowing them to use the return flight without penalty, and provides automatic refunds for passengers forced to travel in a lower class than booked.
The new rules will apply to all flights departing from airports in the European Union and to flights arriving in the bloc if operated by an EU-based airline.