EU finalizes air passenger rights reform, ensuring delay compensation and family seating

European Union countries have given final approval to a reform of air passenger rights, solidifying compensation for flight delays and ensuring families can sit together for free. The agreement, reached after years of negotiations between the European Parliament and member states, avoids stricter limitations that were previously considered.

Under the new rules, compensation claims for delays of three hours or more will be maintained, a point where EU lawmakers successfully pushed back against member states' initial proposals for longer delay thresholds. Passengers can expect 250 euros for delays on flights up to 1,500 kilometers, 400 euros for flights up to 3,500 kilometers, and 600 euros for those exceeding 3,500 kilometers. Crucially, airlines must be at fault for the delay to trigger compensation.

The reform also introduces a list of "extraordinary circumstances," such as natural disasters or extreme weather, that can exempt airlines from paying compensation. To aid consumer choice, advertised flight prices must now include a small piece of hand luggage, though additional bags may incur extra charges. Families with young children are guaranteed free adjacent seating, and passengers retain the right to a paper boarding pass if they prefer it over digital options.

These updated regulations apply to all EU carriers and any airline operating flights from EU airports. The proposal for this reform was initially put forward by the European Commission in 2014, but differing positions among member states led to an eleven-year stalemate. A political agreement was finally reached in June 2025, followed by negotiations that initially stalled before a joint solution was brokered.