EU ministers set to approve new air passenger rights: compensation stays at three hours, families and disabled travellers gain protections
EU ministers are expected to clear the final hurdle on 13 July 2026 for a reform that keeps compensation thresholds for delays at three hours while introducing new rules on seating for families, price display and claims procedures.
What the ministers will approve
EU ministers are expected to give their final approval on 13 July 2026 to a reform of air passenger rights that has been stalled for years. The European Parliament has already voted in favour of the text, which was negotiated between member-state representatives and MEPs. Once the ministers sign off, the new rules are scheduled to take effect from mid-2027.
Compensation for delays and cancellations
The core compensation framework remains largely unchanged from the current regulation. Passengers will still be entitled to compensation when their flight arrives at least three hours late, provided the airline is at fault. The amounts are tiered by distance: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights up to 3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km when the journey is not entirely within the EU. The same thresholds apply when a flight is cancelled fewer than 14 days before departure.
Member states had originally pushed to raise the delay threshold to four hours and to reduce the payout amounts, but those proposals were dropped during negotiations. Airlines will not be liable for disruptions caused by unruly passengers, weather, natural disasters, or strikes by airports or ground-handling providers. The carrier must prove that those circumstances directly caused the disruption.
New obligations for airlines
A key change is that airlines will have to inform passengers in writing about their rights and how to claim them within 96 hours of the end of the trip. Travellers will then have nine months to submit a claim. Once a claim is filed, the airline must pay within 30 calendar days or explain why no compensation is due. The reform aims to raise the low share of affected passengers who actually pursue a claim by making the process easier.
Family seating, baggage pricing and fees
Several new consumer provisions are included. Flight search results will have to display prices that include hand luggage by default, making comparison easier, though airlines may still offer cheaper fares for passengers who voluntarily forgo a large cabin bag. Children under 14, pregnant women, people with reduced mobility and their accompanying persons will be entitled to sit together without paying a seat-reservation fee. Airlines will have to correct spelling mistakes in passenger names on tickets free of charge and print boarding passes for checked-in travellers at no extra cost.
Inconvenience during disruptions
The text also clarifies entitlements during disruptions. After a two-hour wait, passengers must be offered refreshments; after three hours, a meal. These provisions are intended to give travellers clearer and more enforceable rights when flights are delayed on the ground.
