Air travel has become an integral part of both business trips and holidays. However, with the growing number of passengers, disputes between travelers and airlines have also become increasingly common, whether concerning flight delays, cancellations, additional charges, or difficulties in enforcing passenger rights. In response, the European Union has undertaken the most significant modernization of passenger rights legislation in more than twenty years.
The European Parliament has approved a package of amendments aimed at strengthening passenger protection, clarifying the obligations of air carriers, and simplifying the enforcement of passenger claims. While the new legislation builds on the existing framework for passenger protection, it also introduces several practical improvements.
The Existing Compensation System Remains Unchanged
Although the legislative process included discussions about modifying the conditions for financial compensation, the compensation amounts themselves remain unchanged. Passengers will continue to be entitled to financial compensation if their flight arrives at its final destination more than three hours late, provided that the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Compensation will continue to depend on the flight distance as follows:
- EUR 250 for flights up to 1,500 km;
- EUR 400 for flights within the European Union exceeding 1,500 km and for all other flights up to 3,500 km;
- EUR 600 for longer flights.
As under the current rules, passengers will not be entitled to compensation where delays or cancellations result from extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather conditions, security threats, or other events beyond the airline’s control. Nevertheless, passengers will continue to be entitled to appropriate care and assistance while waiting for their flight.
Easier Enforcement of Passenger Rights
One of the key changes introduced by the reform is the simplification of the compensation claim process. Under the previous system, passengers often had to determine for themselves how to submit a claim and which documents were required, making the process unnecessarily complicated and discouraging many from asserting their rights.
Under the new rules, airlines will be required to provide passengers with clear and comprehensive information about their rights.
If passengers choose reimbursement of their expenses instead of rerouting, the compensation procedure will be significantly simplified. Where rerouting is offered, airlines will also be required to inform passengers about the steps necessary to exercise their rights.
In addition, airlines will be subject to a deadline within which they must either decide on a passenger’s claim or provide reasons for rejecting it. The objective is to prevent situations where passengers wait for months without receiving any response.
Families Will No Longer Be Separated on Board
One of the most visible changes is the obligation for airlines to seat children under the age of fourteen next to the accompanying adult without charging any additional fee.
In recent years, particularly among low-cost carriers, passengers have often been required to pay extra to reserve adjacent seats. If they declined to do so, parents and their children could end up seated separately.
The new rules significantly restrict this practice. However, they do not grant passengers the right to choose any specific seat free of charge. Airlines are merely required to ensure that the child is seated together with the accompanying person.
Return Flights Will No Longer Be Automatically Cancelled
Another practical improvement concerns the long-standing practice of some airlines of automatically cancelling connecting or return flights if the passenger failed to use the first segment of the journey.
A typical example involved passengers who, for whatever reason, did not take their outbound flight but still intended to use the return ticket they had already purchased. Under the new rules, failing to use one part of a booking should no longer automatically result in the cancellation of the remaining flight segments.
This change provides passengers with greater flexibility while eliminating a practice that has long been criticised by consumer protection organisations.
Greater Transparency in Airfare Pricing
The European Union has also focused on improving price transparency during the booking process.
Consumers have frequently encountered situations where the initially advertised ticket price gradually increased as additional fees were added during the booking process. Under the new rules, airlines will be required to clearly indicate from the outset what is included in the ticket price, particularly with regard to cabin baggage.
Furthermore, every passenger will have the right to bring at least one personal item, such as a small backpack or handbag, on board free of charge. Contrary to some reports, however, the European Union is not introducing free transport of larger cabin suitcases. The primary objective of the reform is greater price transparency rather than expanding the amount of baggage carried free of charge.
Stronger Protection for Persons with Disabilities
The new legislation also strengthens the rights of passengers with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility.
If a passenger misses a flight due to inadequate assistance provided by the airport, they will be entitled to rights comparable to those available in cases of flight cancellation or significant delay. In addition, an accompanying person will have the right to sit next to the passenger free of charge.
The purpose of these changes is to ensure equal treatment of all passengers, regardless of their physical condition or mobility.
Better Information for Passengers
The reform also places greater emphasis on communication between airlines and passengers. Air carriers will be required to provide clear and accessible information about passenger rights in the event of flight delays or cancellations.
Moreover, airlines will no longer be permitted to require passengers to use only the airline’s mobile application in order to access their boarding pass. Travelers must be able to check in through alternative methods without being required to create an account or install additional software. The new rules also address minor spelling errors in passengers’ names, the correction of which will no longer be subject to additional charges.
When Will the New Rules Enter into Force?
Although the European Parliament has approved the amendments, the legislative process has not yet been fully completed. The proposal must still pass the remaining procedural steps. Following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, Member States will be given a transitional period to implement the new rules.
Until the new legislation enters into force, the existing rules under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council will continue to apply.
Conclusion
The approved amendments do not fundamentally reshape the existing system of passenger protection but rather modernise it. They preserve the current entitlement to financial compensation while eliminating several long-criticised airline practices and increasing the overall transparency of passenger rights.
For travelers, the most significant improvements will include simpler enforcement of claims, free seating for parents and children together, greater transparency in airfare pricing, the prohibition of automatic cancellation of return flights, and stronger protection for passengers with disabilities.
Nevertheless, each case will continue to require an individual assessment, particularly when determining whether a passenger is entitled to financial compensation or whether extraordinary circumstances exempt the airline from liability.