Members of the European Parliament have voted overwhelmingly against proposed changes from the Council of the EU that would weaken compensation rules for airline passengers. The disputed plans included lowering payouts for delayed flights and tightening the conditions under which compensation can be claimed. MEPs want to preserve the current level of protection—and add new passenger-friendly measures such as free carry-on baggage and guaranteed adjacent seating for children traveling with their parents.
“Every year, hundreds of millions of passengers travel by air in Europe. In the European Parliament, we are fighting to strengthen their rights,” Magdalena Adamowicz, a Civic Coalition (KO) MEP, told Newseria. “For airlines—which earn enormous sums—a passenger whose flight is cancelled or delayed, who loses luggage or has it damaged, is just one of millions. But for that person, it’s often a serious, life-disrupting, even dramatic situation.”
Parliament Rejects Higher Delay Thresholds
At the end of January, the European Parliament voted against a proposal by EU member states’ transport ministers to amend air passenger rights. The result was decisive: 632 votes to 15, with nine abstentions.
Under the Council’s proposal, passengers would have become eligible for compensation only after delays of four to six hours—depending on flight distance—rather than after three hours as is currently the case. MEPs want the existing three-hour threshold to remain.
Compensation Levels: MEPs Want 300–600 Euro Range
Parliament also opposed reducing current compensation amounts for disruptions in air travel. MEPs want compensation to be set between €300 and €600, depending on the length of the flight. An earlier proposal by ministers would have lowered the upper limit by €100.
EU rules on air passenger rights have remained largely unchanged for more than two decades. MEPs argue that, instead of weakening them, the legislation should be updated to better reflect today’s market and to close loopholes that make it harder for passengers to claim what they are owed.
Clearer “Extraordinary Circumstances” and Regular Updates
One area lawmakers want to reform is the list of “extraordinary circumstances” that allow airlines to avoid paying compensation. Currently, these may include natural disasters, war, weather conditions, or unforeseen labor disputes affecting an airline, an airport, or air traffic control services.
MEPs want the list to be exhaustive—and for the European Commission to update it regularly—to reduce ambiguity and disputes over what qualifies as an exceptional event.
Free Carry-On Bag and Family Seating
Adamowicz also points to several practical changes intended to curb hidden costs and improve travel comfort:
“A very important solution is to include carry-on baggage in the ticket price—a small suitcase whose dimensions (height, width and length) add up to 100 cm, and with a maximum weight of 7 kg,” she said. “Today, you can sometimes buy a ticket very cheaply, but adding a suitcase is extremely expensive.”
MEPs are also pushing for stronger protections for passengers with disabilities, including priority boarding without additional fees. Another proposal is to ensure that families can sit together without being charged extra for seat selection when traveling with children.
No Fees for Name Corrections or Check-In
Parliamentarians also want to eliminate extra charges for correcting errors in a passenger’s name or for checking in for a flight. In addition, they support introducing standardized, pre-filled forms for compensation and reimbursement claims.
“At the moment, the passenger has to apply for compensation themselves,” Adamowicz said. “If they don’t know the rules, they often have to use intermediaries who also earn large amounts of money from it. The new provisions would require airlines to send passengers, within 48 hours, a form already filled in with basic data—so the passenger only needs to add a few details about their situation. That would make claims much easier and strengthen passenger rights.”
Next Steps: Council Review and Possible Conciliation
Parliament’s position will now be sent to the Council of the European Union. If the Council does not accept all amendments, a so-called conciliation committee will have to be convened to reach a compromise and finalize the legislation.
“This is only the beginning, even though we’ve been fighting for 11 years,” Adamowicz said.
Airlines Looking for Savings, Critics Say
Kosma Złotowski, an MEP from Law and Justice (PiS), argued that airlines are seeking savings because of rising regulatory costs.
“Airlines are looking for savings because the European Commission requires them, for example, to use so-called sustainable fuels. It’s essentially the same fuel as today’s fossil fuel, but produced synthetically—in other words, it’s also ten times more expensive,” he said. “If airlines are burdened with these kinds of costs, they look for savings—there’s nothing surprising about that. Parliament is very tough on this issue, and so is the Commission, which is why a conciliation procedure was proposed, because the trilogues led nowhere. We’ll see how it goes.”
Fewer Cancellations, But Delays Still a Major Issue
According to data from the Flightright platform, the number of cancelled flights in 2025 fell noticeably compared with the previous year, but punctuality remained a serious problem. Nearly one in three departures in Europe was delayed. At some European airports, the share of delayed flights exceeded 40%—including Lisbon, Manchester, and Dublin.
