EU adopts new airline passenger rights framework with revised compensation rules

The European Union has reached a new agreement to overhaul passenger rights for airline travellers. The core of the deal keeps the right to compensation for delays longer than three hours and introduces a tiered payout system of €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500‑3,500 km and €600 for distances above 3,500 km. Airlines may reduce the amount by up to 50 % when they swiftly re‑route passengers or when the arrival delay does not exceed four hours, and exemptions remain for extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters, war or airport strikes.

The pact also strengthens care duties: carriers must provide drinks every two hours, meals after three hours and accommodation for up to three nights during prolonged disruptions. Passengers will receive electronic information on their rights within four days of a flight’s end, have nine months to lodge a claim and can expect a response from the airline within 30 days. New provisions require that the final ticket price, including one hand‑baggage and a small personal item, be shown at booking, and children under 14, as well as persons with reduced mobility or pregnant travellers, will sit free of charge beside a paying adult.

The International Air Transport Association criticised the revision, calling it a “missed opportunity” and estimating an €8 billion annual compliance cost for airlines, arguing that the changes do not address the structural causes of delays.