Free carry-on rules and compensation protections advance.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — July 2026. The European Parliament approved a major revision of European Union air-passenger rules after more than a decade of negotiations with member states. The agreement was supported by 646 lawmakers, with 12 voting against and three abstaining. It preserves financial compensation for passengers whose flights are delayed by more than three hours and introduces clearer protections involving baggage, boarding passes, seating and reimbursement procedures.
Compensation levels will continue to depend on the distance of the affected journey. Passengers may receive €250 for flights of up to 1,500 kilometers, €400 for longer journeys within the EU and other routes between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and €600 for longer flights. Airlines may reduce compensation by 50 percent on the longest routes when passengers are rerouted and reach their destination with a delay of no more than four hours.
Carriers will remain exempt from compensation when disruption results from circumstances beyond their control. These may include natural disasters, war, severe weather, unruly passengers and strikes involving airports, air-navigation services or ground-handling providers. However, airlines must continue providing assistance to stranded travelers, including refreshments, meals and accommodation when necessary. Overnight lodging may be limited to three nights when the disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances.
The revised framework also strengthens the right to travel with cabin baggage without hidden charges. Every passenger will be entitled to carry one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack, without paying an additional fee. Airlines, booking intermediaries and flight-search platforms must display a fare that includes carry-on luggage from the beginning of the reservation process. Carriers may still offer cheaper tickets to passengers who voluntarily choose to travel without cabin baggage.
The agreement does not mean that every wheeled cabin suitcase will automatically be free under every fare. The guaranteed free allowance specifically covers a personal item, while the broader cabin-baggage price must be shown transparently when consumers begin comparing tickets. This distinction is intended to prevent travelers from discovering compulsory charges only during the final stages of payment. The objective is to make advertised fares more comparable across traditional and low-cost airlines.
Passengers affected by cancellations or delays will receive clearer instructions on requesting compensation within four days after completing their journey. They will have nine months to submit a claim, while airlines must pay within 30 days or explain why extraordinary circumstances exempt them from compensation. Travelers choosing reimbursement instead of rerouting will receive their money automatically under the revised system.
The rules also prohibit additional charges for correcting spelling mistakes in passenger names. Travelers who have completed check-in cannot be charged for receiving a printed boarding pass, and they must also be able to obtain a digital version without creating an account or downloading a specific application. Airlines will not be allowed to deny boarding simply because a passenger printed a digitally issued boarding pass independently.
Families will receive stronger seating protections under the legislation. Airlines must place a child under 14 next to an accompanying adult without imposing an additional charge. Comparable protections will apply to pregnant travelers and passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. People who miss a flight because an airport failed to provide required mobility assistance will be entitled to compensation, rerouting and support.
Passengers will also retain the right to use the return segment of a round-trip ticket even when they did not board the outbound flight. Airlines will no longer be permitted to cancel the remaining journey automatically or demand an additional payment in such cases. The measure addresses a practice that has generated frequent disputes between travelers and carriers.
The legislation is not immediately applicable. The Council of the European Union must formally confirm the agreement, which is expected by the beginning of August 2026. The rules will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal, followed by a one-year preparation period for governments and aviation companies. Their practical implementation is therefore expected during 2027.
Transparent fares and enforceable rights could reshape air travel across Europe.