UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe could soon see greater clarity over cabin baggage charges after the European Union reached a major provisional agreement on air passenger rights, ending 13 years of negotiations.
Key Changes for Passengers
The new rules, provisionally agreed by the European Council and the European Parliament on Monday evening, will make it easier for passengers to exercise their rights, according to the Council of the EU. Among the most significant changes is the right for passengers to take one personal item on board without an additional fee, such as a small bag or backpack. Airlines will also be required to display fares that include a cabin baggage allowance before customers begin the booking process, improving price transparency and ticket comparability.
However, airlines may offer cheaper tickets for those who choose to voluntarily travel without hand luggage, the European Parliament has confirmed.
Updated Compensation Rules
Air passengers in Europe can currently claim compensation ranging from €250 to €600 when flights are cancelled or arrive more than three hours late. The new text confirms that passengers on journeys longer than 3,500 kilometres would be entitled to €300 if their flight is delayed by more than three hours, while compensation would rise to €600 if the delay exceeds four hours or the flight ends up being cancelled.
The agreement would also prevent airlines from refusing to allow passengers to travel solely because they failed to take an earlier flight included in the same reservation.
Protections for Families and Vulnerable Passengers
Under the new rules, children under the age of 14 must be seated next to a parent or accompanying adult without extra charges. The same protection will apply to pregnant passengers and travellers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Additional rights for passengers with disabilities include compensation where airport assistance failures cause them to miss a flight, as well as stronger rerouting and support provisions.
Political Reactions
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said: "The European Parliament has always been the strongest advocate for strong air passenger rights. This agreement will strengthen the rights of air passengers across Europe. It will bring greater transparency and predictability for both consumers and airlines, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy for our industry."
Transport and Tourism Committee Vice-chair Virginijus Sinkevičius added: "Today Europe is delivering for air passengers. We have protected the rights people already have, added new safeguards, and brought greater clarity when things go wrong."
Rapporteur Andrey Novakov stated: "Parliament promised passengers that their rights will be protected. And today we delivered. We fought for people, not for statistics. Because behind every delay and every cancellation there are real lives."
Next Steps
The provisional deal must now be formally endorsed by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU within the next six weeks, although the deadline can be extended by a further two weeks if necessary. Following a legal and linguistic review of the text, both institutions will hold separate votes on the agreement. The European Parliament is currently expected to vote on the measures during its plenary session in July.
