After one of the toughest EU legislative procedures in recent times, the passenger rights reform is nearing completion. In trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament, the member states dropped their demand to raise the compensation threshold to four to six hours of delay depending on flight distance. The feared deteriorations that have been looming for months have thus been averted: the core entitlements remain as they have been known for years, with reforms mainly taking place at the margins. What air travelers now need to know.
The core of the agreement is the retention of the three-hour threshold, which the consumer protection agency explicitly welcomes, among others. For delays of three hours or more, according to consistent media reports, compensation will continue to be provided, and the amount will also remain the same: 250 euros up to 1,500 kilometers, 400 euros up to 3,500 kilometers, and 600 euros for more than 3,500 kilometers. The prerequisite remains that the airline is responsible for the delay. For the first time, the law is to list which extraordinary circumstances exclude liability; this codifies the case law of the European Court of Justice, which has so far been shaped primarily by court rulings.
More Transparency on Carry-On Baggage
In the future, ticket prices are to be displayed as standard including one large carry-on item in the overhead compartment; those who don't need it can deselect it and receive a discount. The Parliament's desired generally free carriage of a small suitcase could not be achieved. In addition, airlines must provide more active information about entitlements and, according to an EU diplomat, must inform affected passengers in writing about their rights within 96 hours in case of delays. Fees for seats next to children under 14 years old will be prohibited, and name errors on tickets can be corrected free of charge in the future.
Reform Backlog of More Than a Decade
The Parliament had already submitted reform proposals in 2014, and the original Commission proposal dates back to 2013 - but the procedure stalled in the Council for over eleven years. Movement only came when the EU transport ministers reached a political agreement in June 2025. However, this aimed at a lower level of protection. The Parliament resisted and adopted its counterposition in January 2026 with 632 votes, 15 against, and 9 abstentions. After failed talks, the dossier ended up in the conciliation committee, with a firm deadline until mid-June 2026.
What's Still Missing and When the Rules Take Effect
Politically, the knot has been broken, but formally the final step is still pending. The EU ambassadors approved the compromise last Friday; this Monday, the Parliament's negotiators in Strasbourg are reviewing the transmitted text. The deadline in the conciliation committee runs until the night before Tuesday - if no compromise is reached by midnight, the reform pursued since 2013 would have failed. After that, Parliament and EU states must still formally approve; the provisions are then to take effect twelve months later.
