The EU makes progress on reforming air passenger rights: these are the measures in the agreement

Last Monday, 15 June, the provisional agreement on the revision of the air passenger rights regulations, reached by negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council, received the unanimous support of the Parliament's delegation to the so-called `Conciliation Committee'.

The agreement aims to update a regulatory framework that had remained unchanged since 2004, with a view to providing travellers with greater protection and legal certainty in the event of incidents such as denied boarding, cancellations and flight delays.

Among the issues addressed by the Committee is that relating to compensation in the event of delays, cancellations or denied boarding. The new regulatory framework reserves passengers' right to receive compensation when the delay at the destination exceeds three hours. The amount of compensation remains at 250 euros for flights of up to 1,500 km, 400 euros for distances between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and 600 euros for longer routes.

Similarly, the reduction in compensation amounts remains in place, allowing airlines to reduce compensation by 50 per cent on long-haul routes if they offer alternative transport or if the delay does not exceed four hours. Furthermore, airlines will be exempt from payment if the incident is due to causes beyond their control, as set out in an open-ended list that includes natural disasters, armed conflicts, adverse weather conditions or sector-wide strikes.

In any case, the regulation requires strict compliance with the obligation to assist passengers. Regardless of the cause of the flight disruption, airlines must provide passengers with free refreshments, meals and accommodation for a maximum of three nights whilst the situation is resolved.

With regard to ticket refunds, the new regulation provides for a more streamlined and straightforward process. Consequently, airlines must provide passengers affected by travel disruptions (delays or cancellations) with clear instructions, via electronic means, on how to submit a claim for compensation within four days of the end of their journey.

Passengers will not be required to have a user account or to use a specific app to receive this information. The agreement stipulates that travelers will have nine months to submit a claim for compensation, whilst airlines will have 30 days to pay the compensation or invoke extraordinary circumstances, explain why compensation will not be provided, and refer passengers to the claims handling procedures.

The social aspect of the agreement includes strengthened protection for vulnerable passengers, guaranteeing the right to assistance for people with disabilities or reduced mobility, and ensuring the right to compensation, an alternative journey and assistance from the airline if they miss a flight because they did not receive the necessary help.

Similarly, the separation of families is explicitly prohibited, obliging airlines to ensure an adjacent seat at no extra cost for those travelling with children under 14, passengers with a disability or reduced mobility, and pregnant women.

The commercial aspect is also affected by the reform, which introduces new obligations regarding transparency and the handling of hand luggage. Airlines, travel agents and search engines must clearly display, from the start of the booking process, the full fare including cabin baggage. Negotiators also agreed that airlines may offer a price reduction to passengers who choose to travel without hand luggage.

Another major change is the ban on penalties for ticket printing or spelling errors, a measure that prevents airlines from charging administrative fees for correcting typographical errors in ticket names or for physically issuing a boarding pass after digital check-in has been completed.

Finally, the ratification timetable and next legislative steps have been set for the next six weeks, extendable by a further two weeks. During this period, the European Parliament and the Council must formally approve this text. The European Parliament plans to vote on the agreement during its July plenary session.