Air travellers across the European Union will benefit from significantly stronger protections starting in mid-2027, following a landmark agreement between the European Parliament and the Council. On 7 July, MEPs voted overwhelmingly—646 in favour, 12 against—to endorse the new rules, which the Council formally approved on 13 July. The reform updates the existing Regulation 261, which has been in force since 2004 but has often left passengers struggling to enforce their rights.
Since 2015, flight delays in Europe have increased by 82.7 per cent, far outpacing the 11.5 per cent growth in air traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The estimated cost of these delays to travellers has reached €17.5 billion. Consumer organisations, including the European Consumer Association (BEUC), have long criticised airlines for applying—and sometimes ignoring—passengers' rights, with only 38 per cent of eligible passengers actually receiving compensation.
Key Enhancements for Passengers
The new rules preserve the cornerstone of current protections: compensation of €250 to €600 for flights delayed by more than three hours. This was a hard-won victory for MEPs, who resisted attempts by the Council to water down the provision. Beyond that, the reform introduces several new rights aimed at making air travel fairer and more transparent.
Airlines will no longer be allowed to charge fees for correcting minor name-spelling errors on tickets. Children under 14 and passengers with disabilities will be entitled to free seating, ensuring they can sit with accompanying adults. To improve price transparency, carriers must include the cost of a trolley bag in the basic fare, preventing hidden surcharges that have frustrated many travellers.
These changes respond to long-standing complaints about unfair fees and opaque pricing. The European Commission first proposed the revision in 2013, but negotiations dragged on for years due to disagreements between member states and the Parliament. The final compromise, reached on 15 June, balances stronger consumer protections with operational realities for airlines.
The old rules will remain in effect until the new protections come into force in mid-2027, giving airlines and national enforcement bodies time to adapt. For passengers, this means that for now, the familiar framework of Regulation 261 still applies, but with a clear promise of improvement on the horizon.
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