The position was approved with 632 votes in favour, 15 against and nine abstentions, rejecting changes proposed by the Council in June 2025. The rules in force since 2004 aim to ensure adequate protection for passengers facing travel disruption.
Members of the European Parliament support maintaining passengers’ rights to reimbursement or rerouting, as well as compensation when a flight is delayed by more than three hours, cancelled, or when boarding is denied. This contrasts with the Council’s proposal to trigger compensation only after delays of four to six hours, depending on flight distance.
Parliament is also opposed to reducing current compensation levels and proposes retaining amounts between 300 and 600 euros based on flight distance. Member state governments had proposed a lower range of 300 to 500 euros.
With airline liability limited to circumstances within their control, MEPs call for an updated and exhaustive list of extraordinary circumstances under which airlines may be exempt from paying compensation. These include natural disasters, war, adverse weather conditions and unforeseen labour disputes affecting airlines, airports or air navigation service providers. Parliament has asked the European Commission to update this list regularly.
MEPs agree with the Council on retaining airlines’ duty of care obligations, including providing refreshments every two hours after the scheduled departure time, a meal after three hours, and accommodation for up to three nights in the case of long delays.
To simplify reimbursement, Parliament supports the introduction of pre-filled compensation and reimbursement forms. Airlines would be required to send passengers affected by cancellations or long delays a pre-filled form within 48 hours of the disruption. Passengers would then have one year to submit their claim.
Parliament also seeks to strengthen traveller protection by ensuring passengers can carry one personal item and one small piece of hand luggage on board free of charge, with a maximum combined dimension of 100 centimetres and a weight of up to seven kilograms.
Additional measures include removing extra charges for correcting passenger name errors or for check-in, and safeguarding passengers’ right to choose between digital and paper boarding passes.
Special provisions are included for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. These passengers should be entitled to compensation, rerouting and assistance if they miss a flight due to inadequate airport support. Priority boarding is also foreseen for passengers with reduced mobility, pregnant women, infants and children in prams, with accompanying adults seated next to them at no additional cost.
Andrey Novakov, rapporteur on the file, said: “Parliament is ready to continue the fight for clearer and more predictable rules for airlines and a stronger aviation sector, but not at the expense of passengers. Our baseline is clear: we are determined to improve rather than dilute air passenger rights. We insist that reducing delays has significant overall benefits for Europe’s economy. Therefore, the three-hour threshold for compensation, the existing compensation levels, pre-filled forms and enforceable safeguards remain our red lines. We are counting on EU transport ministers to reconsider their position so that together we may find a mutually acceptable outcome. Citizens expect us to deliver.”
Under the second reading procedure, Parliament’s position will now be transmitted to the Council. If the Council does not accept all amendments, a conciliation committee will be convened to seek agreement on the final legislative text.
Tags: Andrey Novakov, European Parliament air passenger rights
