EU adopts compromise on air passenger rights, keeps 3‑hour compensation rule

EU ambassadors approved a final compromise on the bloc’s air passenger rights reform. The deal preserves the three‑hour delay threshold that triggers compensation of €250‑600, depending on flight distance, and adds an obligation for airlines to give passengers clear instructions on how to submit a claim when flights are cancelled or delayed by at least three hours.

The reform does not require airlines to provide pre‑filled claim forms or direct links, a proposal rejected by member states. It also introduces greater transparency for cabin‑baggage fees by requiring airlines to include those charges in the advertised ticket price, while allowing discounts for passengers who forego the service. Other retained provisions include free accompaniment of a child by an adult, assistance for missed connections, and a ban on forcing passengers to download a mobile app to obtain a boarding pass.

The text now moves to the conciliation committee for final approval before a plenary vote in the European Parliament expected in July, with the rules slated to enter into force in the second half of 2027.