After more than ten years of negotiations with EU member states, lawmakers finally endorsed the updated regulation. Airlines warn that these new rules will likely cause ticket costs to rise, while passenger organizations confirm that consumer rights remain protected.

On Tuesday, the European Parliament ratified the updated EU regulations regarding air passengers, ensuring that travelers continue to enjoy free cabin baggage and can claim financial compensation if flights experience delays of at least three hours.

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

The agreement reached with EU countries received near-unanimous backing in the hemicycle, passing with 646 votes in favor, 12 against, and three abstentions after over a decade of discussions.

Currently, European air passengers are eligible for compensation ranging from €250 to €600 if their flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours. This regulation keeps that rule intact and introduces a fixed compensation of €300 for flights exceeding 3,500 kilometers and €600 for delays longer than four hours or cancellations.

Passengers will have a nine-month window to submit compensation claims, while airlines must respond within 30 days either by paying or by citing extraordinary circumstances to justify non-payment.

The regulation also clarifies policies regarding cabin baggage fees within the EU. Travelers retain the right to carry one free personal item with maximum dimensions of 40cm by 30cm by 15cm.

Currently, budget airlines such as Ryanair or EasyJet impose extra charges for small wheeled items like backpacks or compact bags.

With the new rules, all airlines are required to show total ticket prices including carry-on baggage fees on intermediary platforms and search engines from the beginning of the booking process. Airlines may, however, offer reduced fares for passengers who opt to travel without hand luggage.

Name correction fees will be eliminated, and passengers will have the right to receive digital boarding passes immediately upon check-in without needing to request them or maintain an account or app.

The revision of the EU passenger protection regulation began in 2013, with European legislators advocating for extended baggage rights and enhanced protections against delays, despite opposition from certain EU states and the aviation sector.

These updated rules are set to come into effect in 2027.