European Parliament upholds 3-hour delay compensation and free personal item rule

International

Talks with EU Council set to begin on October 15

The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has reaffirmed strong protections for air passengers, voting to preserve compensation rights for flight delays of three hours or more and to guarantee free carry-on allowances on all flights within the EU.

Clear stance on passenger compensation

With 34 votes in favour and two abstentions, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted their negotiating position on the revision of EU air passenger rights. Lawmakers insisted that passengers must continue to be reimbursed or re-routed and receive compensation for delays exceeding three hours, as well as for flight cancellations or denied boarding.

The Parliament rejected proposals from the EU Council to raise the delay threshold to four or six hours, maintaining that the three-hour rule should apply universally, regardless of flight distance. Compensation would continue to range between €300 and €600, depending on the journey length.

New rules for carry-on luggage and check-in fees

Under the proposed guidelines, all passengers would have the right to carry one personal item – such as a handbag, backpack, or laptop – plus one small trolley bag not exceeding 7 kg and 100 cm in combined dimensions, free of charge.

The framework also calls for the elimination of check-in fees for name corrections or for seating children under 14 next to accompanying adults. Additionally, passengers would be free to choose between paper or digital boarding passes, improving accessibility and convenience.

Next steps in negotiations

The adoption of the Parliament’s position clears the way for trilogue negotiations with the EU Council, chaired by the Danish presidency, beginning October 15. The talks are expected to continue for up to three months, with an optional one-month extension if needed to reach a final agreement.

If adopted, the updated regulation will mark a significant step forward in ensuring transparent, fair, and passenger-friendly air travel standards across the European Union.