The Commission welcomes the historic agreement on the revision of air passenger rights

The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the revision of air passenger rights in the EU. This historic agreement marks the first revision of these rules in over two decades. It modernises and strengthens air passenger rights in the EU by clarifying existing provisions and enhancing legal certainty for travellers, airlines and competent authorities across the Union.

The political agreement includes the following key elements: clearer rules on compensation rights for delays and complaint procedures; extraordinary circumstances; transparency on fares and hand luggage; scope and information for passengers; improved rights for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities; and a ban on no-show policies for return flights.

Compensation rights, thresholds and complaint procedures

The standard level of protection for air passengers is maintained: they can claim compensation following a cancellation or a delay of 3 hours, amounting to €250 for flights of less than 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km. This ensures continuity and predictability for both passengers and airlines. The main change is that, in the event of a disruption to service, airlines must proactively inform passengers, within 96 hours, of their rights and the procedure for claiming compensation. To ensure more efficient handling of passengers’ compensation claims, the procedures have been simplified.

Extraordinary circumstances

Extraordinary circumstances are set out in a list, and the rules on their application have been refined, providing greater clarity and predictability for both passengers and airlines. This will contribute to a more consistent interpretation and application of the rules on extraordinary circumstances across all Member States.

Transparency on fares and hand luggage

The agreement enhances the transparency and comparability of air fares, including charges for hand luggage. Passengers will be better able to compare offers from different airlines and booking platforms, enabling them to make more informed decisions. At the same time, airlines retain the freedom to set their own pricing structures.

Ban on the ‘no-show’ policy for return flights.

No-show policies for return flights are prohibited. This means that passengers who do not take the outbound journey cannot be denied boarding on the return flight. Airlines may not charge any fee for allowing passengers to board the return flight.

Scope and information for passengers

The scope of the Regulation remains unchanged: all flights departing from the European Union are covered, as are flights to the EU operated by EU airlines. To increase transparency, EU airlines may display a label with the information ‘EU Passenger Rights’, which informs passengers of their rights during their journey.

Better rights for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities.

The agreement represents a significant step forward in strengthening the rights of passengers with reduced mobility. They will receive better assistance during service disruptions and their essential mobility equipment will be better protected.

Next steps

The European Parliament and the Council must now formally ratify the political agreement.

Following its adoption and publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, the revised rules will apply 12 months later.

Background

In 2013, the Commission proposed revisingthe EU regulatory framework on air passenger rightsto clarify existing rules and improve their application for both passengers and airlines. Subsequent case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union contributed to the interpretation of passengers’ rights, highlighting the need for updated and consistent rules across the Union. The agreement reached today brings to a close the negotiations conducted under successive Council presidencies.

More information: European Commission.