European Union Secures Free Cabin Baggage and Delay Compensation for Air Passengers

The European Council and the European Parliament have reached an agreement to retain free cabin baggage and financial compensation for delayed flights under EU air passenger rights rules. The revised regulation, set to take effect in 2027, guarantees each traveller one free personal item (40 cm × 30 cm × 15 cm) and a small wheeled bag, ending the common practice of charging low‑cost carriers for hand luggage.

Passengers will continue to receive compensation of €250‑€600 for cancellations or delays of three hours or more. The new text clarifies that airlines must pay €300 on flights over 3,500 km and €600 if the delay exceeds four hours or results in cancellation. The deal also mandates price transparency, requiring airlines and booking platforms to display ticket prices inclusive of cabin baggage from the start of the booking process. Airlines may offer reduced fares to travellers who voluntarily travel without hand luggage.

Negotiations, which began in 2013, were driven by the growth of low‑cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet. The agreement was finalised in June 2026 by EU ambassadors and the Cypriot Presidency, with a senior EU diplomat noting, "The fees that need to be paid are the same as those known for airlines for almost 20 years now. It's a situation that gives predictability."