Passengers retain the right to reimbursement or re-routing in case of flight cancellations and to compensation for delays over three hours, with amounts set by distance: €250 for up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other journeys 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for longer journeys; a 50% reduction option remains if rerouting is offered or if delays do not exceed four hours.

The reform clarifies compensation for delays over three hours, maintaining a €250–€600 scale based on distance, and projects an EU-wide annual cost of about €8 billion.

Compensation for delays and cancellations largely follows the established thresholds (€250, €400, €600) including cases where a cancellation occurs more than 14 days before departure if the airline is at fault.

Implementation requires formal confirmation by the Council and entry into force following publication in the Official Journal, with a twelve-month period before full application and travelers urged to wait for formal adoption.

EU lawmakers frame the reform as a major step toward stronger traveler rights and greater transparency, despite industry pushback.

New rights include free seat reservation for parents beside their children and clearer, more transparent ticket pricing.

Additional rights allow returning on the second leg of a two-way ticket even if the first leg isn’t used, one free personal item carry-on, and fare displays that include carry-on prices with cheaper options for passengers without hand luggage.

The package imposes enhanced operational duties on airlines, airports, OTAs, metasearch platforms and national enforcement bodies, including redesigned booking displays, disrupted-flight workflows, and faster claims handling, with a twelve-month implementation timeline.

Negotiators conceded on some points, such as inflation adjustments, amid industry concerns that the rules could spur more cancellations, while preserving clearer rights and faster processes.

Refund procedures are clarified to be clearer and quicker for passengers.

Enhanced protections for vulnerable travelers include accompanying adults sitting next to a child under 14 at no extra charge and better compensation if airline assistance fails for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The rules require better information on how to claim compensation and confirm that an accompanying adult can sit beside a child under 14 without extra charge.