EU airline passenger rights require assistance for families stranded by delayed flights

European Union regulation on air passenger rights obliges airlines to provide free meals, drinks, two phone calls or emails, hotel accommodation and transport when a flight is delayed beyond set thresholds, and to offer compensation depending on the length of delay and distance of the flight. The rules apply to all carriers, including low‑cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. A mother who spent nearly 24 hours in an airport with two young children after a Ryanair delay reported having to pay for her own hotel and meals before the airline finally offered assistance.

In a separate case, a Hungarian family paid €3,540 for a charter holiday to Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, only to receive a text message a day before departure instructing them not to go to the airport. The charter flight from Budapest to Burgas was cancelled at the last minute, leaving the travellers without transport, hotel reservations or any communication from the tour operator. They were later forced to travel by coach through Serbia to return home, highlighting the impact of sudden flight cancellations on consumers.