EU to mandate free adjacent seats for children on flights from 2027

The European Parliament has approved a revision of air passenger rights that will require airlines to provide free adjacent seats to children under 14 traveling with a parent. The measure, also covering passengers with disabilities and pregnant women, was passed with 646 votes in favour, 12 against and three abstentions.

The new rule will become legally binding after the European Council formally adopts the text by August 2026 and will take effect twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Airlines will have a transition period of one year, making the obligation effective in 2027.

AirAdvisor’s analysis shows that six major European carriers already offer free adjacent seats, including British Airways, while many low‑cost airlines still lack family‑friendly policies. The regulation marks the first overhaul of EU air‑passenger rights since 2004.