The committee vote represents Parliament’s draft response to the Council’s
position adopted in June 2025. The review focuses on ensuring sufficient
protection for passengers facing denied boarding, flight delays or
cancellations.
Transport MEPs opposed proposals from EU ministers to reduce passenger
rights, insisting that travellers must retain the right to reimbursement or
re-routing, as well as compensation for delays exceeding three hours,
cancellations or denied boarding. The Council had proposed raising the
compensation threshold to between four and six hours, depending on flight
distance.
The committee also rejected lowering compensation levels, supporting
amounts ranging from 300 to 600 euros depending on distance. This contrasts
with the Council’s proposal to cap compensation between 300 and 500 euros.
MEPs acknowledged that airline liability should be limited to circumstances
within carriers’ control. The draft position updates the list of extraordinary
circumstances exempting airlines from compensation obligations, including
natural disasters, war, weather conditions and unforeseen labour disputes
affecting airlines, airports or air navigation service providers. The committee
called for this list to be exhaustive and regularly updated by the European
Commission.
The duty of care for stranded passengers would remain unchanged, requiring airlines to provide refreshments every two hours after the scheduled departure time, a meal after three hours and accommodation for up to three nights in cases of long delays. The proposed three-night cap aims to provide predictability for airlines while replacing the current absence of a clear accommodation limit.
MEPs also supported strengthening traveller protections, particularly
regarding baggage rules. They advocated the right to carry one personal item
and one small piece of hand luggage free of charge, with combined dimensions of
up to 100 cm and a maximum weight of seven kilograms.
The committee called for the removal of additional fees charged for
correcting passenger name spelling errors or for check-in, and stressed that
passengers should retain the option of using either digital or paper boarding
passes.
Special attention was given to passengers with disabilities or reduced
mobility and to children. Under the draft rules, these travellers would be
entitled to compensation, re-routing and assistance if they miss a flight due
to an airport’s failure to provide timely support. Priority boarding would
apply to passengers with reduced mobility, pregnant women, infants and children
in prams, while accompanying persons should be seated next to them without
extra charges.
To simplify reimbursement, MEPs proposed mandatory pre-filled compensation
and reimbursement forms. Airlines would be required to provide these forms
within 48 hours of a disruption, whether due to cancellation or long delays.
Passengers would have up to one year to submit a compensation request.
“Again, Parliament is sending a clear message: we will not step back from
existing passengers’ rights. The rules people rely on today remain the
baseline: we are determined to improve them, not dilute them. The three-hour
threshold for compensation, the existing compensation levels, and real,
enforceable safeguards for passengers remain our red lines. From pre-filled
claim forms when flights are delayed or cancelled to the right to sit next to your
child at no extra cost – these are practical rights that must work in real
life. We are ready to continue the fight for clearer, more predictable rules
for airlines and a stronger aviation sector, but never at the expense of
passengers.” said Andrey Novakov, rapporteur on the file.
The draft position was approved by the committee with 36 votes in favour
and two abstentions. It will be submitted to the European Parliament’s January
plenary session for a final vote.
Tags: Andrey Novakov European Parliament Transport and Tourism Committee
