European Parliament Approves New Passenger Rights Rules for Airlines
The European Parliament has formally ratified a new Air Passenger Rights Regulation that mandates airlines provide free seating for adults accompanying children under 14, pregnant women, and passengers with reduced mobility. The measure, passed with 646 votes in favor, 12 against, and three abstentions, ends a process to renew a regulation that had not been touched for more than a decade.
What changes for families and passengers with disabilities?
Under the new rules, airlines must assign seats next to children under the age of 14 at no additional cost to the accompanying adult. This protection extends to pregnant women and individuals with disabilities or reduced mobility. Additionally, the regulation eliminates the practice of “no-show” cancellations for return legs; airlines can no longer deny boarding to a passenger on a return flight simply because they did not take the outbound flight.
Will carry-on luggage become free?
No. Despite strong opposition from the Spanish government, which viewed free carry-on luggage as a “red line,” the final regulation does not prohibit airlines from charging for cabin bags. Instead, the European Parliament is mandating increased price transparency. Airlines must now include the cost of carry-on luggage in the initial prices displayed on search engines and websites to ensure that fares are comparable across different carriers. Consumers will still be able to opt for a lower fare if they choose not to bring a cabin bag.
How are flight delay and cancellation compensations handled?
The regulation maintains the existing compensation structure that has been in place for 12 years. Passengers remain eligible for claims if a flight is delayed by more than three hours, with payouts ranging from €250 to €600 depending on the flight distance. This outcome follows a rejection of initial proposals from some EU governments that sought to increase the delay threshold to four hours and reduce the total reimbursement amounts.
Rights to refunds or rerouting in the event of cancellations also remain intact. However, the text allows airlines to reduce compensation by half for the longest flight routes if the arrival delay is less than four hours.
Why are airlines and governments divided?
The agreement has faced criticism from both sides of the industry. The Association of Líneas Aéreas (ALA) described the result as “little ambitious,” claiming it fails to correct existing systemic problems and may even worsen the current situation without providing tangible benefits to travelers.
Conversely, the Spanish government previously opposed earlier versions of the agreement specifically because it failed to guarantee free carry-on luggage. Virginijus Sinkevicius, the negotiator for the European Parliament, stated that the effort focused on ensuring passengers did not lose existing rights while strengthening protections for the most vulnerable, including families and those with limited mobility.
When do these rules take effect?
The regulation now awaits final ratification by EU governments, which is expected in early August. Airlines and national governments will then have one year to implement the changes, making the regulations mandatory for all operators within that timeframe.
